Grand Duke Kyrill, his wife Victoria Fedorovna and children, Part II

And, the key words in the passage mentioned in King's book is RUMOR, it is cited twice. No fact is involved, just rumors. Anyone can make up stories, it does not take an intellectual.

Most likely from the family circle.

Not from the family circle, but from emigre circles and from someone whose life's work was late imperial Russian society and had talked to people who knew Serge first-hand.

I don't believe that Grand Duke Serge was gay at all, Western writers don't understand the Orthodoxy religion well enough nor do we know the true nature of Grand Duke Serge and Grand Duchess Ella's marriage, its a possibility that she cant conceive [just like other royal women- like for example -  Infanta Isabella of Spain (daughter of Queen Isabella), Marie Therese of France (daughter of Marie Antoniette and King Louis), Alexandrine of Baden the wife of her uncle the Duke of Coburg, her aunt Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll - the list goes on and those women married young enough to have children!]. just because their childlessness, doesn't mean they never had sexual relations.

But I know Orthodox writers - including western ones - who believe Serge was gay. Similarly, I know western writers who have suggested that Ella was barren - or Serge was impotent. People's views shouldn't be seen as a mater of where they come from.

Exactly ! There is always fire where there is smoke. However I think Serge was much more repressed than his cousin Grand Duke Constantine. He at least had an outlet in both in the dramatic arts and bath houses. Serge was a bigoted Christian who believed in a very narrow road to salvation. I think Kirill's case was even more complicated. He was in the navy for awhile and never heard about having a mistress.

 I think Ki rill's case was even more complicated. He was in the navy for awhile and never heard about having a mistress.
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That's true.  Unlike his womanizing brothers.

Well...I don't think Andrej was a womanizer. He just fell for a more mature and experienced woman. Boris was more the womanizer. He had a romance with Missy, Ducky's elder sister. Kirill was a bit of a cold fish, but Ducky found something she could believe in...or so she thought.

For once I agree with Eric.

Andrei wasn't a womaniser. He fell for MK when he was 20 and there is no suggestion that he was ever involved with anybody else. They were an item for well over 50 years, even though up to 1918 there was a menage a trois with Sergei Mikhailovich. As soon as Andrei was in a position to marry MK he did, and they stayed together until his death.

Ann

Thanks.

I think Andrei was a very honorable human being who wanted to do the right thing. He did not abandon his mistress and married her when he had the opportunity. It is interesting to see what attractions Ducky has for Kirill. I think it must be her strength and personality. I found him quite weak as he was sandwiched between his mother & his wife, both strong characters.   

I am not sure where Ducky & Cyril lived when they return to St. Petersburg. Don't think they lived with Marie Paulovna at the Vladimir Palace.

Kyrill and Victoria Melita clowning with Nicholas II and the rest:

http://retronaut.com/2012/10/tsar-nicholas-ii-clowning-around-with-friends/

Don't know how accurate this is but some photos are really funny!

I think some of them are taken in Darmstadt while others are in Denmark.  The ones without Alexandra were from Denmark I believe.

Does anyone have a wedding photo of Ducky and Cyril's wedding?

As far as I know. None has yet been published if they ever existed. Very similar to the wedding of her sister Bee.

Victoria Melita and Kirill's wedding was a low-key affair. Not quite hole in the corner but pretty near to it (like Mikhail Alexandrovich and Natalie Wulfert). Presumably it was only attended by a few intimates and there weren't any official pictures.

Ann

Indeed. The best we could hope for is that there maybe some private pictures from box Kodak cameras. These might have a chance of existence. But I agree with Ann, no official photos. The first ones came when they were allowed back to Russia and post with the two girls (Kira & Marie).