Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna (1882-1957) was the only daughter of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich (1847-1909) and Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, nee Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1854-1920). 

Elena inherited her mother's beauty, but she also inherited her mother's fiery temper. "Poor little thing, I feel sorry for her," wrote the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, "for she is really quite sweet, but vain and pretty grandiose."

She was initially engaged to Prince Max of Baden, however, the engagement was broken off. It was generally believed that it was Max who broke off the engagement, however, we now know thanks to surviving correspondence of Nicholas II and Maria, Duchess of Coburg, that it was Elena who broke off the engagement.

Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark (1872-1938) first proposed to Elena in 1900, but Maria Pavlovna was indignant that her only daughter should marry a younger son with no real fortune or prospects of inheriting a throne. Two years later, Elena's mother agreed to the engagement. Their wedding took place in the palatial church of the Catherine Palace at Tsarskoye Selo on 16th August 1902, attended by members of the Russian and Greek royal famililes.  

Prince Nicholas was known in the family as "Greek Nicky" to distinguish himself from his cousin Tsar Nicholas II.

The daughters of Elena and Nicholas: Olga, Elizabeth and Marina 

Grand Duchess Elena and Prince Nicholas had three daughters: 

Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark (1903-1997), later Princess Paul of Yugoslavia

Princess Elizabeth of Greece and Denmark (1904-1955), later Countess of Toerring-Jettenbach

Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark (1906-1968), later Princess Maria, Duchess of Kent, and mother to the current Prince Michael of Kent (1942-present).

The family was greatly affected by turmoil of the Russian Revolution of 1917, and later by the turmoil in Greece which became a republic. The latter resulted in the family of Prince and Princess Nicholas living in exile in France for a while.

During their years in France, Grand Duchess Elena became deeply involved in charity work for Russian exiles, particularly children. Short of money due to their exile from Greece and the loss of their Russian income, the family lived in reduced, but elegant circumstances. Grand Duchess Elena's fabulous jewel collection, as well as Prince Nicholas' own artwork provided them with an income. It is interesting to note that Nicholas was a talented painter, often signing his works as "Nicholas Leprince."

They returned to Greece where Prince Nicholas died of a heart attack at Athens on 8th February, 1938. Grand Duchess Elena remained in Greece throughout the Second World War, where she died on 13th March, 1957.

In November 2009, a dress belonging to Grand Duchess Elena was sold for £6000, and a photograph album sold for over £8125 at an auction held at Christie's.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 26 October, 2012

Sotheby's London will offer an important Imperial Silver-Gilt and Cloisonne Enamel Icon of Christ Pantocrator, (Ovchinnikov, Moscow, 1884) – commemorating the miraculous survival of Emperor Alexander III and his family when the Imperial train derailed disastrously near Borki in 1888. Twenty-one members of the Imperial retinue died and in the richly-appointed dining car, the Emperor’s dog Kamchatka was killed instantly at his master’s feet. The Emperor, who held up the collapsing roof of the car to allow his family to escape, was later presented with this Icon by his elite guards. Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna recalled the terrible scene of the aftermath in her memoirs: “I found myself at the bottom of a steep slope which the carriage had rolled down. I got up onto my feet and looked back. I saw bleeding people tumbling and falling down after me … It was dreadful … I thought all my loved ones had been killed.” In both state decrees and church sermons this event was presented as proof of God’s divine intervention. Inscribed ‘[From the] Guards [to] Their Imperial Majesties’ and ‘On the Occasion of the Miraculous Rescue during the Imperial Train’s Accident’, the Icon speaks potently of devotion and of the bond between Tsar and people.

Hung in the chapel at Gatchina – the Emperor’s favourite imperial residence – the icon was kept as an important family relic of deep personal significance. Exquisitely enamelled with floral detailing, this rare and richly historical work displays the most filigree craftsmanship and is saturated in Romanov history. After the Revolution this powerfully emotive Icon was believed to be among many of the Imperial family’s belongings that were dispersed on the European antiquarian market. The sale will take place at Sotheby's in London on November 28th, and carries an estimate of £180,000-250,000.

© Sotheby's and Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 25 October, 2012

The Great Hall of the Agate Pavilion at Tsarskoye Selo opened today after an extensive restoration that now showcases the beauty of this room to visitors once again.

The Great Hall is the main room of the pavilion and once served as a place of entertainment and grand feasts during the reign of Empress Catherine II.

It was Catherine who commissioned her favourite architect, Charles Cameron to construction of the pavilion. The hall is made of artificial pink marble walls and columns, and highlighted with fireplaces, decorative carvings and parquet floors.

The restoration of three additional rooms in the Agate Pavilion are underway, and the building is expected to open as a museum once again in the spring of 2013.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 23 October, 2012

The Large Orangery at Tsarskoye Selo.  

The restoration of the large orangery at Tsarskoye Selo is now underway. The 18th-century greenhouse is considered to be one of the finest examples of Russian architecture in the city.

Originally constructed in 1751, historians still debate over who was  the original architect of the building: Sawa Chevakinsky or Francesco Rastrelli. It was rebuilt in 1820 by Vasily Stasov and lost some of its original Baroque features at the time. 

The orangery was severely damaged during the Second World War, but was later restored. In 2010, the facade was repainted, so the current restoration is the first major work on the building since the 1950s. The building is currently under the administration of the St. Petersburg Agricultural University.

Local preservation groups have concerns about saving the building and that it may in fact be too late as the building is is in a terrible state of disrepair. The roof leaks, and the plaster work done in the 1950s was so poorly done that the walls still have traces of where the building was struck by shells during the last war. There are fears that the ceilings could collapse at any time. 

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 23 October, 2012

Palaces and Estates is a monthly magazine published by De Agostini Ltd. since 2010. To date, there have been 44 issues published, complete with handsome collectors albums to store them in.

Published as a collector's series, each issue is dedicated to a particular palace or estate, its history, architects, its Imperial or noble residents, filled with interesting facts and information. 

Each issue is 32-pages, richly illustrated in full colour with Russian text by A. Zharkova. There is NO English edition of this magazine available.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 23 October, 2012

Bernard Piguet, director and chief auctioneer of the Hôtel des Ventes Geneva, announces forthcoming sales of exceptional importance. From 10 to 13 December, emperors, kings, queens and princes will be the virtual guests of the Geneva based auction house, revealing a remarkable set of objects that have never before appeared on the market: Prince Romanov, Prince Youssoupov, Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain, King Boris III of Bulgarie, King Farouk of Egypt, Ferdinand Thormeyer (tutor to the children of Tsar Alexander III), Serge de Diaghilev, Serge Lifar… This is a unique opportunity to plunge into the world of these great names of history thanks to these many objects of prestigious provenance.

The special Russia auction which will be held at the Hôtel des Ventes of Geneva from Monday 10 December will give the general public an opportunity to immerse themselves in the lives of the last Tsars of Russia, in their private lives at court as well as their political and military roles. The collection includes unpublished personal photographs of the Russian imperial family, including a photo album – showing Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitch trying out the trapeze in a room in the imperial palace and playing croquet with his sister Olga Alexandrovna – and photographs of  Tsarevitch Alexei, who was assassinated at the age of 14. These photographs as well as the unpublished autographed letters of the last Tsar Nicholas II to the head of the army Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaïevich, supreme commander of the land and sea armies at the beginning of the First World War will undoubtedly be the outstanding items on the opening evening of the auction. Other items of Russian military history in the period before the Revolution will also be offered for sale at this exceptional auction: shoulder decorations, officers’ helmets, medals… Books about the treasures of the Emperors of Russia, from Catherine II to Nicholas II, complete this prestigious collection. Most of these unpublished documents, that have never been displayed to the public before, come from the collection of the Romanov family.

The Hôtel des Ventes will also be offering for sale a collection of precious objects, family souvenirs and photographs that have never before appeared on the market from the estate of Her Majesty Queen  Victoria-Eugenia of Spain, who died in Lausanne in 1969. One of the top lots is undoubtedly a Russian decoration in gold and red enamel of the order of Saint Alexander Nevski.

The jewellery sale will include a cigarette box and two gold and diamond pins, offered by His Majesty King Boris III of Bulgaria to his prime minister. They have remained in the same family to this day.

© Hotel des Ventes. 22 October, 2012

Photo: Tsar Ivan IV ("the Terrible") demonstrates his treasures to the ambassador of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Artist: Alexander Litovchenko (1835-1890

A new exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, England next year will examine the development of cultural diplomacy and trade between Britain and Russia from its origins in 1555 when the Muscovy Company was founded. Treasures of the Royal Courts: Tudors, Stuarts and the Russian Tsars will reveal the majesty and pageantry of the royal courts of Henry VIII to Charles II and Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) to the early Romanovs as they sought to strengthen their power against a backdrop of religious and social upheaval.

The exhibition will begin with Henry VIII’s consolidation of the Tudor dynasty following his accession to the throne in 1509 and the establishment of the English court style. Charting the exchange between consecutive British sovereigns and ambassadors and their corresponding rulers and diplomats in Russia, it will conclude at the end of Charles II’s reign in 1685, after the re-establishment of the British monarchy had resumed contact with Russia.

Comprising more than 150 objects, the exhibition will chronicle the ritual and chivalry of the royal courts with heraldry, processional armour and sumptuous textiles including furnishings and fine clothing. The leading figures of the time including monarchs, diplomats, wealthy merchants and courtiers will be introduced through portraiture, including paintings and miniatures by court artists. Magnificent examples of jewellery and luxury goods will illustrate the valuable gifts presented by ambassadors.

Martin Roth, V&A Director said: “This exhibition tells us about Britain’s longstanding relationship with Russia as well as highlighting similarities of diplomacy and exchange between both countries - then and today. Our partnership with the Kremlin Museums continues this association and we are delighted to bring together such extraordinary treasures from both museums.”

The works will be drawn from the V&A’s collections, with important loans from Russia, including the Kremlin Armouries Museum and the State Historical Museum in Moscow, alongside objects from British collections including the National Portrait Gallery, National Maritime Museum, the Royal Collection and Royal Armouries.

The exhibition marks the 400 year anniversary of the Romanov dynasty and is part of an ongoing programme of exchange between the V&A and the Kremlin Armouries Museum in Moscow. The exhibition will run 9 March to 14 July, 2013 at the V&A in London, England.

© Victoria & Albert Museum. 21 October, 2012

An elaborate meal was served after the wedding of Grand Duke Peter Nicholayevich (1864-1931)  and Princess Milicia of Montenegro (1866-1951) later Grand Duchess Militza Nicholayevna. This beautiful menu created by the Russian artist Mikhail Osipovich Mikeshin (1835-1896), included turtle, grouse, sturgeon, jellied duck, among other delicacies.

The couple were married at Peterhof on 26th July, 1889. The couple had four children, including Prince Roman Petrovich (1896-1978), father of Nicholas Romanovich (1922-present) who is the current President of the Romanov Family Association.

Militza and her sister Anastasia (wife of Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholayevich (1856-1929) were socially very influential at the Russian Court. Nicknamed The Black Peril, they shared a great interest in the occult. They are discredited with introducing first the charlatan mystic Phillippe, and then Grigorii Rasputin. 

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 20 October, 2012

Monument to Admiral Alexander Kolchak at Omsk in Siberia. Photo Credit: SuperOmsk.ru 

A monument to Admiral Alexander Kolchak (1874-1920)  created by the Moscow sculptor Mikhail Nogin is currently sitting unassembled in a storage facility in the Siberian city of Omsk. 

While Omsk communists are fighting against erecting Nogin's sculpture, another monument to Alexander Kolchak has already been erected in Omsk. The first monument to the White Russian Army admiral has recently been erected outside the Restaurant Kolchak. The official unveiling has not taken place yet: the workers are applying the finishing touches. The unveiling ceremony is scheduled for November 4th and will coincide the admiral’s birthday.

Communists have tried different ways of fighting against the monument to Kolchak in Omsk, and are trying to ban it through legislation now; so far their attempts have been in vain. Deputies of the Omsk City Council have refused to debate the communists’ bill that forbids setting up monuments to non-rehabilitated persons.

© SuperOmsk. ru and Paul Gilbert. 19 October, 2012