Princess Imeretinsky

[Morecambrian]

I was fascinated to hear from a friend that in the early 1960's a Princess Imeretinsky lived in Cheltenham (UK). She owned a large house but as she was poor,let out rooms to theatricals and commercial travellers. Does anyone know anymore stories of this lady indeed which member of that family she was ?

[winniepooh]

BAGRATION (GEORGIA)

This family descends from Ambat I, Prince of the Bagratids in 314, ancestor of Varaz-Tirots, Viceroy of Armenia (616-645), great-grandfather of Aschot III (726-761), ancestor of the lines of Kings of Georgia, and of the Kings of Armenia (the latter extinct in the male line). George I (996-1027), who united the Kingdoms of Abasgia and Iberia into the Kingdom of Georgia, was ancestor of the existing lines of the family which, at various times, shared sovereignty of Georgia and its dependent and neighbouring Principalities and Kingdoms. He was ancestor of Bagrat V, King of Georgia (1360-1395) and King of Imeritia (1360-1386). The latter’s second son, Constantin I (1405-1412) was founder of the two lines of Bagration (Kings of Georgia., Princes of Moukhrani) and of Kings of Imeritia, this last represented by the family of Bagration of Imeritia, IMERITINSKY (see below)


PRINCE CONSTANTINE IMERITINSKY, Serene Highness, succ his brother Prince George (b at Tsarkoe Selo 4/16 May 1897; d at Cheltenham, Glos 24 Mar 1972, Lt in Gren Guards and later Lt in RFC, m (diss by div London 14 Nov 1932) 1stly at London 28 Oct [Orthodox] and 29 Oct [Anglican] 1925 Avril Joy Mullens, b 27 Apr 1910; d at Mexico 28 Nov 1978; m 2nd at London 17 Jul 1933 Margaret Venetia Strong [b at Hammerwood, Sussex 1 Dec 1912], dau of Rev Rupert Strong and Helen Strousberg), as Head of the Royal House of Imeritia 24 Mar 1972, b at Palace of Vichnevetz 5/18 Aug 1898; d at London 20 Nov 1978.

Brother

Prince Michael, b at St Petersburg 27 Jan 1900; d at Nice 14 Apr 1975; Lt RFC, Sqdn-Ldr RAF, m 10 Dec 1925 Margaret Stella Wright (b at Swanwick, Derbyshire 14 Sep 1899; d at Menton 12 Nov 1986), dau of Henry Fitzherbert Wright, JP and Harriet Fletcher, and had issue,

1). Princess Tamara, b at Domaine de la Colla, Menton 5 Dec 1926, Hon Pres of Bagration Council, m 1stly at St George’s, Hannover Sq, London 21 Jul 1945 (m diss by div at London 12 Jun 1967) Lt-Com Thomas Smith Dorrien-Smith (b at Ashlyns Park, Herts 12 May 1913; d at Tresco Abbey 5 Dec 1973; m 2ndly 20 Jul 1967 Margaret Worthington, who had m 1st …. Jones), son of Major Arthur Smith Dorrien-Smith, DSO and Eleanor Salvin Bolwby. She m 2ndly at London 13 Jul 1967 (m diss by div … 1984) Rt Hon Charles Towneley Strachey, 4th Baron O’Hagan, MEP (b at St Marylebone, London 6 Sep 1945), son of 3rd Baron O’Hagan and Lady Mary Palmer, of the Earls of Selbourne.
(Sutton Court, Stowey, Pensford, Bristol, Great Britain).

2). Princess Nathalie, b at Domaine de la Colla, Menton 28 Aug 1930, Pres of Bagration Council, m at St Nicholas, Tresco 15 May 1957 Terence James Gray (b 14 Sep 1895; d Jan 1986), son of Sir Harold Gray, KBE and Rowena Stannus.
(Maghralreave, Lisburne, Ireland)

3). Princess Nadejda, b at Newmarket 5 Feb 1941; m at Geneva 19 Oct 1963 Karl-Heinrich Ebel (b at Dömitz, Mecklemburg 13 Apr 1932), son of Adolf Ebel and Anna Wittler.

[David_Pritchard]

The Serene Princess Imeretinsky (née Margaret Venetia Nancy Strong) about whom you were asking died in Cheltenham on 16 October 1990, aged 78 years. The late princess was the daughter of the Reverend Rupert Stanley Strong and his his wife Helen Nora Margaret Strousberg.


David

[greenbean]

I count myself very lucky that I met Princess Imeretinsky in 1975. I was attending St Mary's College of Education at the time. Our main College campus was at The Park and Tivoli Road runs off it.I had been to see the acommodation officer as I needed somewhere to live as only first year students were able on most ocassions to live in the halls of residence.I was sent to see Princess Imeretinsky as I was told she took in students from the College to board.I must admit to be a bit taken a back by visiting the house of a real Princess but at that age you just accept things! The house on approach looked very nice and if I remember correctly the woodwork and door were painted green and the walls white. I knocked on the door with trepidation!I should not of worried as I was greeted by a very nice lady who made me feel welcome  and had no airs and graces but still retained the grace of a Real Lady.The house was not lavishly decorated and there was Something a little sad about the Princess. I did not realise at the time that the Prince had only died three years before my visit.We sat and talked in the living room for about an hour, the Princess showing great interest in my studies.I could not help noticing a mid height table filled with the most amazing old photographs. The Princess obviously noticed and picked one up telling me it was a picture of her late husband on the Csar's knee, his Godfather, at his christening.I now think of all the questions I should have asked!The Princess was very gracious but told me she felt I was a little too young to live there.Years have gone by but I still treasure that meeting. I wonder what happened to all those wonderful photographs.