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Franz Wilhelm of Prussia, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia., Imperial Russia, Morganatic Marriage, Rebecca Virginia Bettarini
Today, 20 January 2021, the Chancellery of the Imperial House of Russia announced the engagement of HIH Grand Duke George Mikhailovich and Rebecca Virginia Bettarini.
The Grand Duke’s mother, HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia issued a statement saying Rebecca will be known as HSH The Princess Romanoff. This makes the marriage Morganatic.
George Mikhailovich Romanov (born 13 March 1981) is the heir apparent to Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, a claimant to the disputed Headship of the Imperial Family of Russia. She attributes to him the title of Tsesarevich and he bears, as a title of pretence, the prefix of “Grand Duke” with the style of Imperial Highness. His father is Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia and as a cadet member of the branch of the House of Hohenzollern which formerly ruled the German Empire and Kingdom of Prussia, he is also traditionally entitled “Prince of Prussia” with the style of Royal Highness.
Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia born 23 December 1953 has been a claimant to the headship of the Imperial Family of Russia (who reigned as Emperors and Autocrats of All the Russias from 1613 to 1917) since 1992. Although she has used Grand Duchess of Russia as her title of pretence with the style Imperial Highness throughout her life, her right to do so is disputed. She is a great-great-granddaughter in the male line of Emperor Alexander II of Russia.
European Royal History 