News and Announcements from the Imperial House.
It was announced today by the Russian Imperial House that the child of Grand Duke George and Princess Romanov will be a son.
The announcement came simultaneously via the Imperial Chancellery in Moscow, the couple’s social media, Paris Match Magazine, and through Frederic de Natal’s “Dynastie” magazine.
The announcement came on the feast of the Kazan Mother of God.
Histoires Royales has published a piece on Grand Duke George Mikhailovich and Princess Victoria Romanovna and spoke with the couple as they spent some time in Rome this summer. The original article is by Nicolas Fontaine, and the photos by David Niviere. We are happy to post a translation for English speakers.
Read the original article HERE
Princess Romanoff and her “baby bump” in Rome: The Tsarevich George and Victoria prepare for the baby’s arrival
Buying a crib, a well-deserved rest and strolling through the streets of Rome, the future parents allow themselves a little time in Rome! Grand Duke George Mikhailovich and his wife are in Italy, the perfect opportunity to present Princess Victoria's round belly to her Italian family. A few weeks ago, the heir to the Imperial House of Russia announced that his young wife was expecting the couple’s first child.
Princess Victoria Romanovna presents her rounded belly to her relatives in Italy
The expected date of delivery and the sex of the baby have not yet been publicly announced.. Even if the mystery hovers until the birth, one thing is certain: George and Rebecca, 41 and 37 years old, are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their first child. The Romanoff heir and Grand Duke married Rebecca Bettarini on October 1, 2021. Rebecca, a writer and director of the Imperial Foundation, took the name Victoria Romanovna when she converted to the Orthodox religion.
Victoria, who received the title of Princess Romanoff from her mother-in-law upon her marriage to the heir to the Imperial House of Russia, already sports a rounded tummy. The couple is currently on vacation in Italy, Victoria's homeland, and the expectant mother took the opportunity to present her baby bump to her loved ones and family.
Buying clothes for the newborn, walking through the streets of the Italian capital, George and Rebecca had a very nice first photo shoot as parents-to-be. This is Rebecca's first appearance with her babybelly. Of course, Zhong, Victoria's Japanese spaniel, was also along on the trip!
George Romanov and Victoria Romanovna are thrilled and eager to be parents
After living in several European cities, including Brussels where they met, George and his wife have settled in Moscow. The couple works for the various charities that their foundation supports, in particular the food bank Foodbank Rus, which was has been working overtime during the pandemic and now during this period of instability in the east of the continent.
George and Rebecca announced the good news at the end of May 2022. George and Rebecca were married civilly in Moscow, on September 24, 2021. They were married with great fanfare in a religious ceremony at St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg on October 1, 2021.
Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, the current head of the Imperial House of Russia and mother of the heir Grand Duke George, learned the "news with great joy and gratitude." Grand Duke George is the only son of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and her ex-husband, Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia. Rebecca Bettarini is the daughter of Italian ambassador Roberto Bettarini.
The lovely photos of the couple in Rome show that the statement from the Imperial House is true: Princess Romanoff is doing well and is "in excellent health." The princess has no plans at the moment to “cancel or postpone her current commitments" but she may have to not accept too many new commitments in the coming months.
George and Rebecca met many years ago and collaborated on the creation of the Imperial Foundation. Rebecca, who now heads the Foundation, converted to the Orthodox religion in July 2020 during a liturgy led by Metropolitan Barsanophius of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, at the Ss. Paul and Peter Cathedral, taking the Orthodox name of Victoria Romanovna. Her mother-in-law granted her the title of Princess Romanoff at her wedding with the style of Serene Highness.
Nicolas Fontaine, Photos by David Niviere.
The first interview with The Romanoffs since their happy announcement. Russian Legitimist is pleased to provide a translation of the original Italian interview, conducted and written by Barbara Nevosi
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Love was born over time — the long engagement and then the fairytale wedding in St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg last October. Now, the news of the crowning moment of the dream of Rebecca Bettarini (who with her wedding became Princess Victoria) and her husband, the Grand Duke George Romanoff, has arrived: she is expecting. Yes, it brings great joy to the family: soon a baby will be born, an heir to the tsars, in whose veins Italian blood will flow. Roman by birth, cosmopolitan in upbringing, Rebecca, born in 1982, grew up following her father, Ambassador Roberto Bettarini, during his diplomatic assignments around the world. She speaks six languages, has a degree in Political Science, writes mystery novels for pleasure and has a pragmatic and determined attitude. Before getting married she worked in an Italian defense group and founded her own consulting company.
Now she manages several foundations, each dealing with charity and food assistance, as well as to help stem the "culture of waste." Gente now meets Rebecca and George for the first time since the official announcement of their engagement. And today, we collect the thoughts of the expectant mother, eagerly awaiting her firstborn,
Rebecca, how are you feeling?
“I feel well. I am in my fifth month and this pregnancy is proving to be very calm.”
Do you already know the sex of the baby?
"Yes. but we will reveal it later. We are waiting until we choose the name and then we will reveal whether it is a male or a female".
What about baptism?
“In the Orthodox Church this is done 40 days after the birth of the baby. There is a Chancellery which will organize everything, just as they did for the wedding. They will speak to the clergy and decide where it will be most appropriate to celebrate it".
How are you preparing yourself to become a mother?
"I haven't really internalized the idea yet. The important thing is that this baby is healthy, that everything is fine and that the birth is seen as a good sign of a more peaceful future. We live in difficult times. Beyond the fighting in Ukraine, there are many conflicts in the world, and enormous poverty continues to exist. As a girl, with my parents, I lived in Baghdad during the war, so I understand what I am talking about quite well. One always hopes that history will not repeat itself, but it is not so".
A few weeks ago you and your husband released ‘doves of peace’
"It was a symbolic gesture. We do not enter into political issues, as we would never want our words to be taken out of context. As my husband says, we stopped being involved in politics 100 years ago. Releasing doves is a sign of peace, that peace which is a universal right and goal of all peoples. We all hope for a better future for our children and promote reconciliation as soon as possible.
Your Highness, have you always hoped to become a mother?
"Yes, but only with the right person. With my husband we have cultivated this desire together, we also waited until we could stabilize a bit as we have each lived in many different cities over the years".
What made you fall in love with her husband?
"His kindness, his goodness. Characteristically. we met one another, but it was only later that the spark went off. For years we were just friends, but the first time I brought George home, my father said ,"You are going to marry this boy, because he already looks like our son.” He was family-oriented, and we had in common similar education, mentality, and values.”
How has it been since the first months afterthe wedding. What changes have you faced?
"We have not changed personally, or as a couple, but the perception of us by others has. I had no role before, but now I do. In Russia, the history and the past are very much felt and respected. And since the Romanoffs reigned for three hundred years, the Russians themselves identify very much with the family. Then there is a very strong religious component: Nicholas II and his whole family (exterminated by the Bolsheviks in Yekaterinburg on the night between 16 and 17 July 918, ED.) are Saints and Martyrs, and in us, as their descendants, they see a continuity".
Your husband said that he feels like a guardian of the historical and cultural memory of Russia, How do you help him?
“The Romanoffs do not have political offices, but a service role. We use our name to do good, making it available to those who suffer. We also helped the Orthodox community abroad during the pandemic. We help Russians and Ukrainians with the problems in Ukraine. Russians and Ukrainians are brothers, like Armenians and Uzbeks. When we give assistance we don’t check passports.”
Do you already imagine what kind of father George will be?
"I believe he will be attentive and taken by the role. And very sensitive, maybe even a little nervous. The doctor says that with the second child that gets better".
Do you have any plans soon?
"In time, to return to Italy for a while, to enjoy a bit of relaxation by the sea".
Barbara Nevosi
On May 28, 2022, a solemn awards ceremony of the "Heritage" literary prize was held at the Central House of Writers in Moscow. The prizes were awarded for two seasons at once: 2020 and 2021, since no ceremonies were held during these years due to the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic.
The Heritage («Наследие») Prize is under the patronage of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, who has been present at the award ceremony in every previous year.
This year, the ceremony was attended by the son and heir of the Grand Duchess – His Imperial Highness Grand Duke George Mikhailovich, together with his wife, Her Serene Highness Princess Victoria Romanovna.
For more, read HERE (in Russian)
Papers around the world have reported the happy news of the upcoming birth of the first child of Grand Duke George Mikhailovich and Princess Romanoff.
Here are a few links!
2022-05-23. The Funeral of German Yurievich Lukianov
On May 23, 2022, in the Church of the Entrance of the Mother of God in the Temple at Saltykov Bridge in Moscow, Fr. Nikolai Koniukhov officiated at the funeral of German Yurievich Lukianov, a devoted supporter of the Imperial Family and the head of the Legal Department of the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia.
Attending the funeral were H.I.H. The Heir, Tsesarevich and Grand Duke George of Russia and his spouse, H.S.H. Princess Victoria Romanovna. Also attending were German Yurievich’s family, colleagues, and many friends.
The Head of the Imperial House of Russia sent a letter of condolences, which was read after the service:
“It was with great sadness that I learned of the untimely passing of German Yurievich Lukianov.
“German Yurievich was a successful and talented representative of the Russian legal profession, an heir and continuator of its best traditions. He combined a high degree of professionalism, determination, and a single-minded devotion to his client’s cause with uncommon kindness, sensitivity, and integrity; he cared deeply for every individual whose rights and interests he advocated and defended in court. For more than a quarter of a century, beginning in 1995, when he began representing the Imperial House, and especially since 2003, when I appointed him to lead the Legal Department of my Chancellery, German Yurievich vigorously and selflessly fulfilled the duties he took on, helping Our House to advance the cause of justice and fairness. His most important achievement was the rehabilitation of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers, Emperor Nicholas II and members of his Family, our other executed relatives and their faithful servants, who shared the way of the Cross with them.
“I, my son and heir, Grand Duke George, and his spouse, Princess Victoria, extend our deepest condolences to German Yurievich’s family, friends, and colleagues. For us, the passing of German Yurievich Lukianov from this earthly life is a huge and irreplaceable loss, the loss of a true and devoted friend and supporter.
“May the Lord grant rest to the soul of His departed servant German in His Heavenly Abode, and may his memory be eternal!”
[The original is signed in Her Imperial Highness’s own hand:]
MARIA
H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia
Madrid, 6/19 May 2022
Feast of Holy and Righteous Job the Long-Suffering
Birthday of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearer Emperor Nicholas II
It was announced from Moscow today that Grand Duke George Mikhailovich and his wife, the Princess Romanoff are expecting their first child to be born later this fall.
Our prayers and best wishes for a healthy and happy addition to the august family!
We are very pleased to send our heartfelt congratulations to Her Serene Highness Princess Victoria Romanovna on her birthday. С днём рождения! Многая и благая лета!
