⭐ 📢 Royal Romance: Grand Duke George's Imperial Engagement

The year 1895 marked a significant turning point in the history of European royal families, particularly for the Russian Empire. It was during this time that the Imperial Family of Russia, led by Tsar Alexander III, began to forge alliances with other prominent royal families across the continent. This strategic move aimed to strengthen the bonds between nations and secure the future of the Russian Empire through strategic marriages and diplomatic ties.

One of the most notable engagements during this period was that of Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia, the youngest son of Tsar Alexander II, to Princess Marie of Greece and Denmark. This union, which took place on April 12, 1895, was a significant milestone in the Imperial Family's efforts to expand its influence and secure alliances with other European royal families. The marriage of Grand Duke George and Princess Marie not only solidified the ties between Russia and Greece but also highlighted the importance of strategic alliances in maintaining the balance of power in Europe during the late 19th century[1].

what is the significance of grand duke george in european history

Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia, born in 1863, played a significant role in European history, particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a member of the Russian Imperial Family, he was part of the aristocracy that dominated European politics and society at the time. His life and career reflect the complex web of alliances and rivalries between European royal families, as well as the tumultuous events that shaped the continent during that period. One of the most notable aspects of Grand Duke George's life was his marriage to Princess Maria of Greece, daughter of King George I of Greece. This union strengthened the ties between Russia and Greece, solidifying the bonds between the two nations and reflecting the strategic alliances that were crucial to maintaining the balance of power in Europe during the late 19th century. Grand Duke George's military career and his appointment as curator of the Alexander III Museum in St. Petersburg further highlight his influence on European history. His expertise in coins and his extensive collections contributed significantly to the museum's growth and the preservation of Russian cultural heritage. Additionally, his military service reflects the ongoing military rivalries and alliances between European nations during this period. The Grand Duke's life also intersects with the tumultuous events of the early 20th century, including the Russian Revolution and the subsequent execution of many members of the Romanov family, including Grand Duke George himself. His story serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of these events and the lasting impact they had on European history. In summary, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia was a significant figure in European history due to his royal lineage, strategic marriages, military service, and contributions to cultural preservation. His life reflects the complex web of alliances and rivalries between European royal families and the tumultuous events that shaped the continent during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

what was the relationship between grand duke george and emperor nicholas ii

Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia was the great-grandnephew of Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia. His great-grandfather, Kirill, was the first cousin of Nicholas II, not his brother, as previously misstated.

what was the relationship between grand duke george and other members of the russian royal family

Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia was a member of the Russian Imperial Family and had significant connections to other prominent members of the royal family. His father, Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia, was a descendant of the Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia, the elder sister of Emperor Nicholas I. This familial link established a direct connection between Grand Duke George and the Romanov dynasty, making him a dynast of both the Romanov and Hohenzollern houses. Grand Duke George was also the great-grandnephew of Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia. His great-grandfather, Kirill, was the first cousin of Nicholas II, not his brother. This familial relationship highlights the complex web of alliances and rivalries between European royal families during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In terms of his immediate family, Grand Duke George was the son of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, who claimed the disputed Headship of the Imperial Family of Russia. His mother's claim to the throne was contested by other family members and Russia-based royal watchers. Grand Duke George was married to Rebecca Virginia Bettarini, who converted to the Orthodox Church and took the name Victoria Romanovna for the wedding. The couple has a son, Prince Alexander Georgievich Romanoff. Grand Duke George's family tree is marked by significant connections to other prominent members of the Russian royal family. His great-grandfather, Kirill, was the first cousin of Nicholas II, and his father, Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia, was a descendant of the Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia, the elder sister of Emperor Nicholas I. These familial ties reflect the complex web of alliances and rivalries between European royal families during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Photograph courtesy of the Russian Imperial Chancellery.

Today, 20 January 2021, the Chancellery of the Imperial House of Russia announced the engagement of HIH Grand Duke George Mikhailovich and Nob. Rebecca Virginia Bettarini.

The statement reads as follows:

The Chancellery of the Head of the Imperial House of Russia HIS IMPERIAL HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUKE GEORGE MIKHAILOVICH OF RUSSIA AND NOB. REBECCA VIRGINIA BETTARINI ARE ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED It is with great pleasure that Her Imperial Highness The Grand Duchess of Russia, Head of the Russian Imperial House, announces the engagement of her beloved son, His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke George of Russia, to Nob. Rebecca Virginia Bettarini, daughter of His Excellency Ambassador Nob. Roberto Bettarini. Nob. Rebecca Virginia Bettarini has converted to Holy Orthodoxy, with the name Victoria Romanovna. The wedding is expected to take place in Autumn 2021. Further details of the date and time of the wedding will be announced in due course. His Imperial Highness and Nob. Rebecca Virginia Bettarini became engaged in December 2020, after the Grand Duke received permission to marry from his mother, as the Head of the Imperial House. His Imperial Highness has also received the blessing of Ambassador Nob. Roberto Bettarini.

Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia also issued the following decree:

WE GRAND DUCHESS MARIA OF RUSSIA BY THE GRACE OF GOD HEAD OF THE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL HOUSE

make it known to all that

Asking the Lord’s blessing, We are pleased to grant Our permission to Our beloved son and heir, His Imperial Highness The Tsesarevich and Grand Duke GEORGE of Russia, to enter into marriage with his chosen bride, the hereditary noblewoman Rebecca Virginia Bettarini, who, on 29 June / 12 July 2020, the Feast of the Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul, in the Cathedral of Ss. Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg, was received into Holy Orthodoxy with the name VICTORIA ROMANOVNA. We deem it proper that VICTORIA ROMANOVNA should, from the moment of her marriage with Our son, have the right to use the dynastic surname Romanoff with the title of Princess and the predicate of Serene Highness.

Announcing this event, so joyful for Our heart, and entrusting the future of our Most August son and heir, H.I.H. The Grand Duke George of Russia, and his future wife to the almighty protection of the Heavenly King, with firm faith in His mercy, We have every confidence that Our countrymen will join their prayers with Ours to Almighty God for a happy marriage, prosperity, and the blessing of children.

Issued in Madrid on the 20th day of January in the year of Our Lord 2021, and in the thirtieth year since Our succession to the rights and duties of Our Most August Ancestors—the Emperors and Empresses of Russia. The original is signed in Her Imperial Highness’s own hand:

MARIA

Therefore, the marriage of Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia and Nob. Rebecca Virginia (Victoria Romanovna) Bettarini will take place with the permission of the Head of the Imperial House, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia. The decree gives the appearance that the marriage will be considered unequal; however, as the decree does not address the style and title of any future children of the couple in the way of the past decrees from Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich and Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich on the same topic, this is open to interpretation. Further, the imperial decree notes that the future Princess Victoria "should, from the moment of her marriage with Our son, have the right to use the dynastic surname Romanoff." After the marriage, Nob. Victoria Romanovna Bettarini will bear the style and title of Her Serene Highness Princess Victoria Romanovna Romanoff.

The Couple: How George and Rebecca Met

Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia and Rebecca Virginia Bettarini, 2012. Photograph (c) BRAFA.

Grand Duke George and Nob. Rebecca Bettarini have always had many friends in common, and they met several times during their teens at events in Europe. They met again as adults at a French Embassy event in Brussels when both were working for large foreign companies accredited to European institutions. From there a deep friendship was born that led the Grand Duke to ask Bettarini to help him in the charity activities carried out by the Imperial family. Later, the friendship morphed into a long and loving relationship. After living for about six years in Brussels, the couple decided to settle in Moscow, Russia, where they both work in the philanthropic sector.

The Engagement Ring: A Ruby Paired with Diamonds

The imperial engagement ring. Photograph courtesy of the Russian Imperial Chancellery.

The ring is of a type traditionally exchanged by brides and grooms in the House of Romanov. The ring’s style of setting, in which cabochon rubies, sapphires, garnets, amethyst, diamonds or emeralds are invisibly set into a burnished gold band, became popular in the late 19th century. In the past, these rings were given as friendship or engagement bands, and were worn both by men and woman. They were quite fashionable in the late Victorian era, particularly because of the popularity of using gemstones to indicate certain values, traits, and feelings; all stones were ascribed with symbolic meanings. Members of the Romanoff Dynasty have always worn rings of this type, particularly in the Vladimirovichi branch, which became the senior line of the dynasty after 1918. The rings worn by members of the Russian Imperial Family often had diamonds, sapphires, and rubies, reflecting Russia’s national colours – white, blue, and red. When he was eighteen years-old, Grand Duke George of Russia was given this ring by his mother, the Head of the Imperial House of Russia, Grand Duchess Maria of Russia. It was to be used as an engagement ring that he would one day give to his future fiancée. The ring centers a ruby cabochon gemstone that represents love and nobility, and two diamond brilliants that represent purity and strength. In August 2020, Grand Duke George of Russia presented the ring to Rebecca Virginia Bettarini during a private holiday.

Their Families Delighted on Announcement of Engagement

During normal times, the families of Grand Duke George and Rebecca would be able to be with them in person to celebrate this happy occasion: the engagement of their children. Alas, due to travel restrictions in place due to the current coronavirus pandemic, the parents of the couple have sent their expressions of happiness to George and Rebecca from their respective homes. In Madrid, Grand Duchess Maria of Russia sends much love her son and her future daughter-in-law. In Potsdam, Prince Franz Wilhelm and Princess Nadia of Prussia send their deep affection and happiness to George and Rebecca. In Rome, Ambassador Roberto Bettarini and Mrs. Carla Bettarini send their love to their daughter and their future son-in-law. George and Rebecca are only children, so this joyous moment in their lives means a great deal to their parents and family.

More on the Fiancé: Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia

Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia. Photograph courtesy of the Russian Imperial Chancellery.

The newly engaged couple. Photograph courtesy of the Russian Imperial Chancellery.

George and Rebecca. Photograph courtesy of the Russian Imperial Chancellery.

HIH Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia was born at Madrid on 13 March 1981: the grand duke's arrival took place exactly 100 years after the martyrdom of his great-great-grandfather, Emperor Alexander II of Russia, in 1881. On 6 May 1981, the feast day of St. George, the little grand duke was baptised into the Russian Orthodox Church. Grand Duke George’s godparents are King Constantine II of Greece, for whom the baby’s grandfather Grand Duke Vladimir stood proxy, and Helen Kirby, Countess Dvinskaya, George’s maternal aunt. Grand Duke George was raised between Madrid, Paris, and St Briac. He attended Runnymede College in Madrid, D'Overbroeck's College, Oxford, and St Benet's Hall, Oxford. After completing his studies at Oxford University, and wanting to study the processes that were determining the future course of Europe, Grand Duke George began working for the European Parliament, and then moved to the position of assistant to the vice-president of the European Commission and Commissioner for Transport and Energy, Loyola de Palacio, in Brussels. Later George continued working for the European Commission in Luxembourg, in the European Commission for Atomic Energy and Security. In November 2008, Grand Duke George accepted a job offer from the management of Norilsk Nickel; and in December, the Grand Duke assumed the position of special advisor to the company’s Director, V. I. Strzhalkovskii. In this new position, His Imperial Highness represented the interests of Norilsk Nickel—one of Russia’s largest companies—in the European Union. In addition, Grand Duke George of Russia took a seat on the Board of the Nickel Institute. After having gained significant experience advancing the interests of Russian industry, and his employment contract with Norilsk Nickel having expired, Grand Duke George of Russia founded Romanoff and Partners, a public relations consulting firm in Brussels. Grand Duke George is the president of Foodbank Rus, the main food back in Russia.

About George's Mother: Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia

Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, Head of the Imperial House. Photograph courtesy of the Russian Imperial Chancellery.

Grand Duke Vladimir and Grand Duchess Leonida with their daughter Grand Duchess Maria and their grandson Grand Duke George. Photograph courtesy of the Russian Imperial Chancellery.

Grand Duchess Maria of Russia with Grand Duke George and Victoria Romanovna, Malaga, 2019. Photograph (c) Belga Image.

Grand Duke George's mother is HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, the Head of the Russian Imperial House since 1992. On 23 December 1953, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia was born at the Nuestra Señora de Loreto Clinic in Madrid. She was the only child of Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich of Russia, Head of the Imperial House from 1938 until 1992, and his wife Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna (née Princess Bagration-Mukhranskaya), who married in 1948. Maria Vladimirovna was the granddaughter of Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich (1876-1938) and Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna (1876-1936; née Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha), the great-granddaughter of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich (1847-1909) and Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna (1854-1920; née Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin), and the great-great-granddaughter of Emperor Alexander II Nikolaevich of Russia (1818-1881) and Empress Maria Alexandrovna (1824-1880; née Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine). Upon being baptised into the Russian Orthodox faith on 3 February 1954, the infant was given the name Maria; the chosen godparents were her great-uncle Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich, who due to ill health was represented at the event by Prince Nicholas of Romania (a son of Maria Vladimirovna's great-aunt Queen Marie of Romania), and Queen Mother Giovanna of Bulgaria. Maria was partially raised by a nurse: a Swiss-German woman by the name of Hanny Vögelin. Hanny, described as “firm but fair,” taught the little girl how to read and write, and stayed on with the family until Maria went to primary school at the age of seven. After this, Maria went on to the British Institute in Madrid. Passionate about languages, she then made the choice to enter Oxford University, where she began her studies in 1972 at Lady Margaret Hall. Grand Duchess Maria left Oxford in early 1975 an accomplished polyglot, fluent in English, French, Russian and Spanish as well as possessing a thorough knowledge of Russian literature. In July 1976, Grand Duke Vladimir and Grand Duchess Leonida announced the engagement of their daughter Maria to Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia, the son of the late Prince Karl Franz Joseph of Prussia and his first wife Princess Henriette of Schönaich-Carolath. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich (as Franz Wilhelm became known after converting to Russian Orthodoxy and being granted the style and title of Grand Duke of Russia by his soon-to-be father-in-law) were married in great style on 22 September 1976 at the small Orthodox Church in Madrid. Their wedding was attended by four kings (King Lek a I of the Albanians, King Simeon II of Bulgaria, King Umberto II of Italy, and King Juan Carlos of Spain) and six queens (Queen Mother Geraldine of Albania, Queen Susan of the Albanians, Queen Mother Giovanna of Bulgaria, Queen Margarita of Bulgaria, Queen Farida of Egypt, and Queen Sofía of Spain) as well as a deluge of other royals. Maria and Michael's only child was born almost five years into their union. Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia arrived on 13 March 1981 at Madrid. Grand Duchess Maria Vladmirovna and Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich separated in 1982. Their divorce became final in 1985. The grand duchess has never remarried. As a single mother, Grand Duchess Maria raised her son with the assistance of her parents. Once again, the four Romanovs formed a tight family unit. Grand Duke George also had regular visitation with his father Prince Franz Wilhelm (who reverted to his Prussian title after the divorce). In 1992, Grand Duchess Maria succeeded as the Head of the Imperial House of Romanov following the sudden death of her father. Since that time, the grand duchess has made more than seventy visits to Russia, carrying on the duties of her imperial ancestors and attempting to help her fellow Russians to revive the traditional foundations of the state and society. In her speeches and interviews, the Grand Duchess Maria of Russia repeatedly emphasizes that she is the representative of the traditions of legitimate Orthodox monarchy, but that under no circumstances does she wish monarchy to be imposed on the Russian people against their will.

About George's Father: Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia

Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia with his son Grand Duke George (and his grand-dog Zhong). Photograph courtesy of the Russian Imperial Chancellery.

Grand Duke George with his parents Grand Duchess Maria of Russia and Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia as well as his stepmother Princess Nadia at the wedding of Hereditary Prince Ferdinand of Leiningen and Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia, 2017. Photograph courtesy of the Russian Imperial Chancellery.

The Romanovs in Moscow, March 2020. Photograph courtesy of the Russian Imperial Chancellery.

Grand Duke George's father is HRH Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia (b.Grünberg 3 September 1943; formerly His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich of Russia). Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia is the eldest surviving child of HRH Prince Karl Franz Joseph of Prussia (1916-1975) and HSH Princess Henriette of Schönaich-Carolath (1918-1972). Franz Wilhelm studied law and business administration at the University of Mainz and the University of Frankfurt am Main. The prince is a businessman. From 1976 until 1985, Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia was married to Grand Duchess Maria of Russia. In view of the fact that his wife would inherit the rights and duties of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, Prince Franz Wilhelm converted to Russian Orthodoxy before his wedding convert and took the name Michael Pavlovich. This was by mutual agreement and with the blessing of the then Head of the Russian Imperial House, Grand Duke Wladimir Kirillovich, and the then Head of the German Imperial and Prussian Royal House, Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia. In accordance with the marriage contract, the groom agreed to raise any children from his marriage to Grand Duchess Maria of Russia in the Orthodox faith and as members of the Russian Imperial House. Grand Duke Michael and Grand Duchess Maria had one child, Grand Duke George (b.1981). Prince Franz-Wilhelm gave up the title of Grand Duke of Russia when he and Grand Duchess Maria divorced in 1985, but the prince remains a practicing member of the Russian Orthodox Church. Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia and his wife Princess Nadia (née Nour; the couple married in 2019) live in Potsdam. Accompanied by his wife, Prince Franz Wilhelm visited Russia for the first time in March 2020, to celebrate the birthday of his son, Grand Duke George of Russia. Prince Franz Wilhelm attended the Divine Liturgy and took Holy Communion in the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in the village of Uspenskoe, in the Moscow Region. The prince then attended an intercessory prayer service for the health of this son, and a requiem service for Emperor Alexander III in the Novospassky Monastery in Moscow, where he paid his respects to the ancestors of the House of Romanov.