A Moscow court has ordered a continuation of the investigation into the murder of Tsar Nicholas II and his family. This despite the last Russian imperial family were killed by Bolsheviks 92 years ago.
The Russian prosecutor general’s main investigative unit said it had formally closed a criminal investigation into the killing of Nicholas II earlier this year because the Bolsheviks who shot the family are long dead.
But Moscow’s Basmanny Court on Thursday ordered the case reopened, saying a Supreme Court ruling blaming the state for the killings made the deaths of the actual gunmen irrelevant, a lawyer for the tsar’s descendants and local news agencies said.
“This is an important step in our quest for the truth,” said German Lukyanov, the lawyer representing Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, a descendant of the Romanov dynasty who is a claimant to the throne.
“The Russian people have the right to know what happened.”
A spokesperson for the prosecutor general’s office did not comment on whether it would contest the ruling.
Although the murders were ordered by Vladimir Lenin, it was the revolutionary firing squad who carried out the act a few hours after midnight on July 17, 1918 in Ekaterinburg. The Tsar, his wife and five children, plus four servants were the victims of the shootings.
The remains of the nine of the eleven victims were exhumed in 1991, and were buried in 1998. Recently, two more skeletons – those of one of the daughters and the the Tsar’s son – were discovered several yards from the burial site. Those remains have yet to be buried.
On an island three hours from Athens, the former King of Greece’s second son, Prince Nikolaos, married his longtime girlfriend, Tatiana Blatnik. The nuptials took place at Ayios Nikolaos monastery on Spetses Island. Close friends and family – many of them royalty themselves – saw the happy couple tie the knot.
Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images Europe
Before the wedding, King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie were seen at Ayios Nikolaos, checking in on last minute preparation.
Constantine told AP Television: “As you know, in all of these situations, even the last minute you are preparing.”
By sunset, the wedding guests began to arrive. Crowds and media gathered outside, though they were kept at distance by security.
As the guests arrived, they stopped to pose for the photographers before heading inside the white monastery.
Prince Nikolaos, age 40, came to his wedding by boat. Tatiana Blatnik meanwhile, came in a horse drawn carriage. Dressed in a simple gown of lace and Grecian style thrown in, the bride was given away by her father, Atilio Brillembourg.
What went on during the ceremony remains unknown, as this was a private wedding for a deposed royal family. Greek voters abolished the monarchy in the 1970s, and the family has been living in exile since the late 60s. Currently, most of them are based in London.
After the wedding, Prince Nikolaos and the now Princess Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark emerged from Ayios Nikolaos, arm in arm and very happy. They waved to the crowds as they got into a carriage that sent them to their reception.
Tatiana, age 29 and an events planner for fashion house Diane von Furstenberg, is known as Princess Nikolaos because she is not a princess in her own right; she earned it by being a prince’s wife.
Crowds and media on the Greek island of Spetses turned out in droves to get a glimpse of one of the biggest royal events of the year: the marriage of Greek Prince Nikolaos and Tatiana Blatnik.
Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Though the wedding is Wednesday, the pre-wedding reception took place the night before at the Grace Poseidon Hotel. Royals from all over Europe gave the people a chance to see them as they arrived for the dinner.
Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Although the monarchy was abolished in Greece in the 1970s, its exiled royal family are allowed to come back for major events such as this wedding. Prince Nikolaos is the second son of King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie.
Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Many of the royal coming to this wedding are their relatives. For example, the children of King Juan Carlos of Spain are o Spetses. That is because their mother, Queen Sofia, is Constantine’s sister.
Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Also related to the Greek royal family are the Danish royals. Queen Anne-Marie is sister to Queen Margrethe II, and therefore is aunt to Crown Prince Frederik and Princes Joachim. Frederik’s wife, Crown Princess Mary, is representing him at the wedding, while Joachim and his wife Princess Marie are also there.
Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Also in attendance are newlyweds Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden, along with the Netherlands’ Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima, and Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon.
Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Though there is much media attention surrounding this wedding, Nikolaos and Tatiana hope the press would keep their distance Wednesday.
“The couple’s wish is to celebrate their wedding with close family and friends in as much a discreet and calm way as possible,” King Constantine’s office said in a statement.
This Wednesday, former Greek Prince Nikolaos will tie the knot with long time love Tatiana Blatnik. The nuptials will take place on the Greek island of Spetses during the afternoon local time.
Milos Bicanski/Getty Images/FILE
Since the Greek royal family are a non-reigning family, there won’t be as much media attention as there were with Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel this past June. This wedding won’t be broadcast on TV and most of the reporting will consist of photographs.
However, if any video does come about, I will post it or direct you to it!
The following is the confirmed guest list for the wedding:
Denmark:
Queen Margrethe, Crown Princess Mary, Prince Joachim, and Princess Marie
Greece:
King Constantine, Queen Anne-Marie, Princess Alexia and her family, Crown Prince Pavlos, Princess Marie Chantal and children, Princess Theodora, Prince Philippos, and Princess Irene
Spain:
Queen Sofia, Prince Felipe, Princess Letizia, Infanta Elena, Infanta Cristina, and Iñaki Urdangarin
Sweden:
Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Prince Carl Philip, and Princess Madeleine
Supposedly, Jordan’s Queen Noor will come as well, but that is not yet confirmed. No word on any British royals coming or not.
A Moscow court Wednesday gave the government one month to prove that it owns Russian landmark, the Kremlin, since descendants of the country’s first ruling dynasty are claiming ownership of it.
Valery Kubarev claims to be the “Grand Prince of All Russia” and a descendant of the Rurik family, which first ruled Kievan Rus in the Middle Ages and then Moscow up until 1598 before the Romanovs came into power in 1613. Kubarev claims the Kremlin was built during his family’s rule.
His lawsuit filing comes at a time when the government is returning dozens of landmarks to the Russian Orthodox Church. The lawsuit also brings up the question of who really owns the 28 hectare area of palaces, cathedrals and government buildings surrounded by a high red brick wall.
A lawyer for Rosimushchestvo (the Federal Agency for State Property Management) says that while the Kremlin is owned by the state, no one has ever officially claimed or registered it as their property.
“The court noted that there is no document that proves that the Kremlin is somebody’s property. All we have is a presidential decree that says that the Kremlin is his residence,” Kubarev said. “Well, I could write my own decree, too.”
According to the Rossiiskaya Gazeta newspaper, the Russian government is pointing out that the U.N. recognizes the Kremlin as a World Heritage Site and the property of the state.
But Kubarev doesn’t seem to care.
“I want the address registered in my passport to say, ‘Kremlin, Moscow,’” Kubarev said. “The Ruriks have always helped spur spiritual and cultural development in Russia, so the dynasty needs to be registered in the heart of this country.”
Besides the Kremlin, Kubarev is also claiming other property in Russia, including the medieval citadel of the northwestern Russian city of Pskov.
Even more bizarre is his reaction to the smirks and laughter in Russia. On his website for the Princes’ Foundation, Kubarev warns: “Let us add that the Rurik family is descended from ancient gods whom one would do well not to disturb, otherwise the consequences for the jokesters will be dire.”
The Moscow court will hear the case on October 18th.
Prince Carlos Hugo, the Duke of Parma, passed away Wednesday morning in Barcelona of prostate cancer. He was 80 years old.
Official Site of the Duke of Parma
The Duke, once a claimant to the Spanish throne, was married to Dutch Princess Irene, Queen Beatrix’s sister. It was a controversial union as Irene converted to Catholicism in order to marry Carlos Hugo. By doing so, the Princess lost any rights to the Dutch throne. During her wedding in Rome, none of her family members were present. The marriage lasted from 1964 to 1981.
Despite the divorce, the Duke continued to be a member of the Dutch royal family and even took part in some of their engagements.
Carlos Hugo and Irene had four children: Carlos age 40, the 37-year-old twins Margarita and Jaime, and Carolina who is 36.
The Duke had been suffering from prostate cancer for a long time. Earlier this summer, he released a statement saying, “I find myself in the hands of God and am surrounded by my friends and family.”
Carlos Hugo’s remains will be transferred to Parma and Piacenza in Italy, after which he is buried in the family crypt in the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata in Parma. After the funeral there will be held a memorial service held in the Spanish capital Madrid sometime later.
Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark was honored as a special guest at the Academy of Couture Art in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 24. The youngest daughter of the deposed King and Queen of Greece arrived with actor Scott Elrod.
The event was hosted by Viviana Vigil of NBC’s 1st look. Runway highlights included Nouvelle Couture Collections, Tribute to Swarovski Collection, Special Collection pour Lloyd Klein Couture, Seamless Couture Collections inspired by Alexander McQueen, and much more.
27 year-old Theodora has been studying acting for quite sometime. It is believed her stage name is simply Theodora Greece.
The daughter of the last King of Italy, Princess Maria Gabriella of the House of Savoy, gave an interview this week to a Spanish magazine called Diario de Mallorca. Published on the island of Mallorca, where the Princess likes to spend her summers, the magazine asked her various questions about exile and the state of the Spanish monarchy.
Diario de Mallorca/Cristina Macaya Jr
Q: Do you remember your departure to exile? A: “Yes, very well. The year was 1946 and we left Italy on board a warship full of cockroaches, but for us, as children, meant the discovery of the world, it was really fun. After a referendum was not clear who gave the victory to. The King would not face the Italians in a civil war and decided to leave.”
Q: What has served you as the daughter of King? A: “Our family, the Savoy, has over a thousand years of history. Kings reunified Italy in the nineteenth century. My father, during his exile of more than three decades suffered a lot. He left Italy for 46 years. We love your country. But I was very homesick. Maybe that’s why he collected many prints, books, pictures, history … When he died it was divided into four parts. I bought that I belonged to one of my sisters, so now I have about ten thousand prints, both in books and other curious objects. I have a foundation, do exhibitions and conferences. In fact, I love to do a show in Spain with the clothes of my mother, wonders of the fashion of the Court of the 30s.
Q: “It portrays a world that no longer exists … A: “Yes, everything has changed. The only maintaining these applications is the Queen of England. My mother was the daughter of King Albert I of Belgium and Elisabeth of Bavaria, the niece of Empress Sisi. The women were all fantastic, with many concerns. It was an independent woman opposite to fascism, he saw the disaster, tried to help but not the left. The war years were terrible.
Q: What do you think of the monarchy today? A: “I think the monarchy will disappear sooner or later. King Juan Carlos has done very well, not to mention the Queen Sofia. Being Queen is a very hard job and it takes dedication to service. I have other concerns, perhaps because I have lived in exile. The prince who does serve should not resign his post and make way for those willing to sacrifice for this institution.
Q;What do you think Letizia? A: I’ve seen her only once and was the day of her wedding. I think she is smart. She has a difficult role. That’s why I never wanted to marry a King. Not worth it.
Princess Maria Gabriella was also asked about the state of the House of Savoy, and why she supports her cousin, the Duke of Aosta, rather than her brother as head of the family.
“My brother did some things wrong in his life and is not a good representative of the dynasty. It should be like in Germany. People respect heads of families, but when he misbehaves, it is a quick throw for the cousin or little brother,” she said.
Born in 1940, Maria Gabriella now lives in Switzerland, working as a noted Italian historian. She was married once, to Robert Zellinger de Balkany, and has one daughter, Marie Elizabeth and two grandchildren.
Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna, the widow and mother of the claimants to the Russian throne, died Monday in a hospital in Madrid. She was 95 years old.
Yury Kryuchkov/RIA Novosti/FILE
The Grand Duchess was born in 1914 in Tblisi, Georgia. Her family was the House of Mukhrani, a branch of the Bagrationi dynasty which ruled Georgia during the middle ages.
She married Sumner Moore Kirby in 1934 and had a daughter named Helen. Leonida later then married Grand Duke Vladimir Cyrillovich Romanov, who was the pretender to the throne until his death. Together, they had a daughter, Grand Duchess Maria, who today claims the throne.
When Grand Duke Vladimir, who was the great-grandson of Tsar Alexander II, died in 1992, he was buried in St. Petersburg at the Peter and Paul Fortress, which is also the resting place of many of the Romanov Tsars. According to Alexander Zakatov, the director of the Romanov dynasty’s office, Leonida requested that she be buried next to her husband.
The Grand Duchess was the last member of Russia’s former imperial family to be born before the 1917 Russian Revolution. Many of the high ranking Romanovs, including Tsar Nicholas II and his family, were murdered by Bolsheviks.
Today, with the exception of Grand Duchess Maria and her 29 year-old son, Giorgi, all other Romanov descendants lay no claim to the throne and do not seek to restore the monarchy.
It was announced Sunday that Archduke Rudolph of Austria passed away on Saturday in Brussels at the age of 90.
The sixth child of the last Emperor and Empress of Austro-Hungary, the Archduke was born in Villa Prangins, Switzerland in 1919, where the Habsburgs lived in exile after being deposed. Rudolph’s father, the Emperor Karl, died when he was only 3 years old.
The family lived in Spain and Belgium until the outbreak of World War II. Wanted by the Gestapo, Rudolph and his family escaped to Quebec, Canada and eventually ended up in upstate New York.
Rudolph continued to spend some years in New York, working on Wall Street before he settled in Belgium. While in New York, he married Countess Xenia Sergeievna Czernichev-Besobrasov in 1953 and together, the couple had four children. Sadly, Xenia died in a car accident in 1968.
In 1971 the Archduke married Princess Anna Gabriele von Wrede, with whom he had a daughter.
Archduke Rudoplh is survived by his two older brothers, Felix and Otto, his wife, children and 15 grandchildren.
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