One Year Later: Remembering a Night at the Vladimir Palace

On 30 September 2021, a gathering of former kings, members of royal houses, and the nobility of Russia and the countries of Europe surprised the world.  They had arrived in Saint Petersburg for the wedding of the heir of the House of Romanov, the Grand Duke George Mikhailovich, and his bride, the Italian Rebecca Virginia Bettarini, known since her conversion to Orthodoxy as Victoria Romanovna.

Noted royal historian Marlene Koenig, remarked in an article on the event that the guests joked together, referring to the planes carrying the notables as “Air Gotha.”[I]  Jest aside, Koenig also pointed out that it was the largest single gathering of royalty and the high nobility in Saint Petersburg since the beginning of the First World War[ii]

On the first night of the three days of events in St. Petersburg, the Grand Duchess Maria hosted a small dinner at the former palace of her great-grandparents, Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Vladimir.  The evening was a chance to welcome family members and distinguished guests, and to distribute the family honors which are traditionally awarded at important dynastic events.

At Grand Duchess Maria’s own wedding in 1976, her father Grand Duke Vladimir awarded the Imperial Order of St. Andrew the First-Called to, King Constantine of Greece, King Leka I of Albania, and Tsar Simeon of the Bulgarians. Another King at the wedding, King Umberto II of Italy, had been awarded the Order by Nicholas II himself at his birth in 1904. At the Vladimir Palace, Grand Duchess Vladimir was pleased to award the same order to HM King Fuad II of Egypt, and to King Leka’s son, Crown Prince Leka of the Albanians.

Her Imperial Highness was also pleased to award the Imperial Order of St. Vladimir, 1st class to HE Jean-Marie Musy, Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to Spain, and the Imperial and Royal Order of St. Stanislas, 1st class, to close family friend HH Prince Joachim Murat, Prince of Pontecorvo[iii],

After the awards, the palace was opened to five hundred of the more than 1500 guests expected the following day at the wedding of Grand Duke George and Victoria Romanovna.


We give all credit to the extraordinary Royal photographer DAVID NIVIERE for these exceptional photographs of the event. All copyright belongs to the photographer.

Notes:

[i] “Air Gotha Arrives in St. Petersburg” Royal Musings, 29 September, 2021 (http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2021/09/air-gotha-arrives-in-st-petersburg.html)

[ii] While guests at the reburial of the Dowager Empress counted the Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark, the former King of Greece, the Crown Prince and Princess of Serbia, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent among the guests who stood by Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna’s side at the reburial, those attending the wedding included King Simeon of Bulgaria, King Fuad II of Egypt, Crown Prince Leka of the Albanians, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, and other members of the royal houses of Albania, Afghanistan, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Egypt, France [Bourbon and Bourbon-Orléans], Greece, Italy [Savoy and Aosta], Liechtenstein, Naples (Murat),Portugal, Prussia, Qatar, and Spain. 

[iii] HH the Prince is the heir to headship of the House of Murat.  Joachim Murat was created the 1st Prince Murat by his brother-in-law Emperor Napoleon I, and ruled as Joachim-Napoleon, King of Naples, from 1808-1815.

Twitter Bans Fake Social Media Account Using Identity of Grand Duke George

On August 19, the Chancellery of the Russian Imperial House issued a public statement regarding the web and social media accounts of the Russian Imperial House.

A subsequent announcement listed the “official” web and social media accounts of the Imperial House, including, in particular, those of Grand Duke George and Princess Victoria Romanovna on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok, and YouTube.

RL notes that a Twitter account using the name of Grand Duke George had been tweeting political material since 2015. This account, which had no connection to the Grand Duke was shut down by Twitter today. We applaud Twitter for taking fast action on this matter.

For reference, the “official” web and social accounts of the Imperial House are:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/GeorgRomanoff

https://www.facebook.com/therussianimperialfoundation

Twitter:

@romanofffamily

Instagram:

@grand _ duke _ george _ of _ russia

@rebeccavictoriaromanova

Telegram:

@GD_GROMANOV

Tik Tok:

@russianromanovofficial

@rebeccavictoriaromanoff

We are very glad that the illegal account has been suspended, and hope that those interested in the work of the Russian Imperial House will follow their legitimate and official accounts.




Vanity Fair Italia Visits With the Romanoffs

Vanity Fair Italia has just published a piece with news of Grand Duke George and Princess Romanoff from their summer holiday on the Italian coast. You may read the original article HERE. RL is happy to provide an italian translation.

The Italian Holidays of George Mikhailovich and Rebecca Bettarini (waiting for the royal baby).

The last heir of the tsars and the Italian businesswoman, expecting their first child, made a stop in Rome and then in Puglia with the two animals from which they never separate: their dog Zhong and their Parrot, Gilbert

ROBERTA MERCURI

12 August 2022

Last October, photos of their imperial wedding in St. Petersburg went around the world. Now the last heir to the tsars, George Mikhailovich, and Italian businesswoman Rebecca Bettarini, expecting their first child, decided to spend their first vacation as a husband and wife in Italy. The Royals-who in July announced they were expecting a boy-made a stop in Rome and then in Puglia. The social media photos - from the capital to the trulli of Alberobello-reveal the already evident baby bump of the expectant mother and expose all her joy.

George Mikhailovich, 41, son of Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia and Grand Duchess Maria, and Rebecca Bettarini, 36, daughter of Ambassador Roberto Bettarini, have been linked for eleven years. The two met at a reception at the French Embassy in Brussels. "The courtship was natural, spontaneous: we discovered that we had the same values, the same education. A deep friendship was born that little by little turned into love".

On October 4, 2021, George and Rebecca entered St. Isaac's Cathedral for the first imperial wedding in over a century, in the city of St. Petersburg, built by his ancestor, Peter the Great. The couple were visibly moved when they received the wedding blessing from the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg, the highest religious authority, in a ceremony attended by the Crowned Heads of half the world. Almost a year after the "yes" the two, for their first holidays as husband and wife and the last, perhaps, before becoming parents, have chosen Italy.


Anniversary of the Declaration of the Curatorship of the Throne by Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich.

One hundred years ago, Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich lifted the banner of monarchism which had lain dormant since the murder of Nicholas II, his son Tsesarevich Alexis, and his brother Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich. Kirill’s act declaring himself the “Curator” or “Protector” of the throne marked a transitional moment in the history of Russian monarchism.

An exceptional essay on this has been written by Alexander Zakatov, PhD., historian and director of the Chancellery of HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, head of the House of Romanov, and the granddaughter of Grand Duke Kirill.

Read an English translation HERE.

Histoires Royales Visits with Grand Duke George and Princess Victoria on Holiday

Russian Legitimist is happy to provide a translation of the original article, available HERE.

Grand Duke George and Princess Victoria visit Puglia with Zhong and Gilbert before the birth of their son

by NICOLAS FONTAINE

Grand Duke George Mikhailovich Romanov and Princess Victoria Romanovna are currently on holiday in Puglia. The beautiful Italian is expecting her first child. The family heir apparent of the Imperial House of Russia is expecting a boy.

Before the arrival of their first child, the family of Grand Duke George and Princess Victoria consists of Zhong and Gilbert. The Tsarevich and his wife are very fond of animals. Victoria's Japanese spaniel and parrot accompany them everywhere. Georges, Victoria, Zhong and Gilbert are currently on holiday in Puglia.

It is at their holiday home in the south of Italy that the son and daughter-in-law of the Grand Duchess of Maria Vladimirovna enjoy a few days of respite. The couple are spending their summer in Italy, the country of origin of Princess Romanoff. Victoria, born Rebecca Bettarini, is the daughter of Italian ambassador Robert Bettarini.

Photo: David Niviere

A Very Happy Name Day to HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna!

Today, August 4 (July 22nd, O.S.) is the feast of the Holy Myrrh-Bearer and Equal-to-the-Apostles St. Mary Magdalene, heavenly patron of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, head of the Russian Imperial House.

The Editors of Russian Legitimist send our hearty congratulations and best wishes for many years!

С днём ангела! Многая и благая лета!