What are Maria Vladimirovna and her son doing?

[Nathalie]

I totally agree with you there 100%! I think all the Russian people really want is to be free, free to live their own lives, to make their own choices, without the interference of a tsar. After everything that has happened since 1917 (and before that), if the Romanovs return to the throne, it's like history repeating itself all over again, with the people being repressed.


Nah if people still cheer for the memory of Stalin or Lenin, don'T be so sure, Romanovs couldn't pull it out...
But no..it would be really weird, non of the post-communist countries restored kingdom-though I find very smart the Bulgarian royal, who became the PM for a time (or maybe still, I don't know). Thats good, because not the boold counts, but the ability, at least theoretically.

[TampaBay]

It seems to me that if a monarchy was re-installed in Russia it would be almost only as a figure head as in Norway & Sweeden not as a true ruler as in Monaco, Spain or to a lesser degree Great Britian.  There are good arguments both poltical and encomic for having a family on a throne.

If I were GD Maria Vladimirovna and really wanted to be part of all that is Russia and all that is now going on in Russia, I would move back to Russia as a private citizen ASAP.

Does anyone know why she has not moved back to Russia?

TampaBay

[Bach]

I think to answer that question, TampaBay, is to examine several questions:

1.  How is she funded, and would she be able to enjoy her lifestyle (without working) equally well there as in Spain?
2.  Is part of her financial funding requisite on her remaining in Spain?  I have heard that the Royal family of Spain contributes to her furbishment and upkeep; perhaps there is the agreement between governments that she can agitate for restoration but cannot return to Russia unless specifically invited.
3.  Who is Putin and would he permit her to return?  She is of no value to him, and he is old-style Soviet, dressed in democratic trappings, after all.
4. What can she possibly offer to the Russian government that would make her attractive to invite back? Her claims are disputed, her imperiousness offensive.  If the Russian government thought she was a horse to be backed, arrangements would have been made to un-invite the other Romanovs to the reburial, and glorify her only.  That didn't happen.
5.  And given the reburial situation, it could be that she just doesn't WANT to go back and lead a private life.  Russia is not her home; Spain is.  It's her terms or no terms, and Russia isn't exactly saying she's all that and a bag of chips.

That would be my line of questioning and reasoning.

[Benjamin]

Maria has already made comments to the Russian press about why she and her family have not yet returned. See here: http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/dynastynews/news/vin/360.html (she is asked the question towards the end of the interview)

[Bach]

So it's a combination of #4 and #5.

*  She doesn't want a private life, she wants recognition of her "claims;" and

*  There is no incentive for the government of Russia to invite her back in that capacity.  She adds nothing to the equation.

Same for her son, I imagine.

The money question is also important, but of course MV does not address her underwriting.


On the citizenship debate earlier:

My father holds dual US and Irish citizenship, which is useful when traveling in the EU.  My mother, who is of Hungarian descent, also holds dual US and Irish citizenship by virtue of being married to my father.  The US government does not recognize the Irish citizenship and my parents pay all taxes to the US.  Ireland allows dual citizenship and does not demand taxes until residency is established.

My great-uncle held US citizenship by birth and when he traveled in Europe for 3 years prior to the outbreak of WWII, he was granted Hungarian citizenship (Austro-Hungarian) after visiting Budapest and applying.  He was not required to renounce his US citizenship.  When he returned to the US in 1939 and enlisted in early 1940 (having seen the situation in Europe and knowing that the US was destined to enter the war,) he was required to renounce his Hungarian citizenship although he had never given up US citizenship.  About 2 months after his death under US arms in 1942, he got a draft notice from Nazi Austria saying that they had rejected his renunciation of citizenship.

Strange citizenship questions indeed, and my uncle was clearly not a Grand Duchess where "extraordinary possibilities" existed.

[TampaBay]

2.  Is part of her financial funding requisite on her remaining in Spain?  I have heard that the Royal family of Spain contributes to her furbishment and upkeep; perhaps there is the agreement between governments that she can agitate for restoration but cannot return to Russia unless specifically invited.

I have heard the above Royal Family of Spain rumor too.  I cannot figure out why the Spanish Royal family would give her an allowance.  Also, I read that Maria's Half-Sister threw her out of her house.  Has anyone elsa heard this story?  I wonder in Maria received child supoort from the Hohenzollerns for GD George.

TampaBay

[Bach]

TampaBay, like you, I have heard that her half-sister finally had her fill of Maria and ended their relationship.  Since it was the money of Helen Kirby's father, Leonida's first husband Sumner, which supported Maria and her son these many years, it would appear that other arrangements needed to be made for their table, hearth and roof.

As they are both citizens of Spain by virtue of birth, it may be that the Spanish Royal family considers them a special kind of ward of the state, distant relatives of royal blood who should be sheltered.  Did not the Royal Family of GB eventually offer a grace-and favor to one of the GD's later in life?  I'm on vacation and have not access to my books, but I'm certain that was the case.

[Robert_Hall]

Where have you read of this estrangement ? I would be interested in finding out the details. Or at least what is known.

[Benjamin]

Where have you read of this estrangement ? I would be interested in finding out the details. Or at least what is known.

I myself read about it here: http://www.royals-portal.de/forum/index.php?s=&showtopic=5065&view=findpost&p=28341. There aren't any details as to why it happened (or is alleged to have happened), though.

[TampaBay]

Where have you read of this estrangement ? I would be interested in finding out the details. Or at least what is known.

I myself read about it here: http://www.royals-portal.de/forum/index.php?s=&showtopic=5065&view=findpost&p=28341. There aren't any details as to why it happened (or is alleged to have happened), though.

The link did not work.  Who is GD George supoosed to marry?

TampaBay

[miller99]

GD Vladimir Kirilliovich was a close relative of Queen of Spain Victoria Eugenie b. Battenberg. 

[TampaBay]

Through Queen Victoria?

TampaBay

[pookiepie]

Does anyone know why she has not moved back to Russia?

i've noticed that many people say this, but to go back somewhere implies you were there before. if she was born (and raised, i assume) in Spain, she is a Spaniard (of Russian descent), not a Russian. visiting the country doesn't count. as much as i like the romanovs and imperial russia and wish the revolution didn't happen, this is still all fantasy. russians won't accpet a bunch of fereigners as their leaders. i think bringing up the monarchy again is too much work. russia doesn't need that right now.

[miller99]

Through Queen Victoria?

TampaBay

Through is mother Victoria Melita and grandgrandmother Empress Maria b . Hessen -Darmstadt 

[imperialruss]

 Well HIH CALENDER IS VERY ACTIVE INDEED !


Here is the latest full report of HIH  activities in Australia which was a great succsess\

http://russianwelfare.org.au/pdf/imperial.pdf


http://russianwelfare.org.au/pdf/imperial.pdf, in fact HIH HAS BEEN TO RUSSIA SO MANY TIMES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS ITS HARD TO KEEP UP WITH HIH, DOING CHARITY WORK --MEET AND GREET OFFICIALS AND PEOPLE FROM ONE END OF RUSSIA TO THE OTHER , LAST YEAR IN VLADIVOSTOK, ON NAVY SHIPS ECT.


http://www.riuo.org/SUCCESSION_ENGLISH.pdf