Russia holds first royal wedding in over a century; 104 years after Tsar's assassination

Russia celebrated its first royal wedding on October 1 in more than a century, at least 104 years after assassination of Tsar Nicholas II and his family. Grand Duke George Mikhailovich Romav married Victoria Romavna Bettarini on Friday at St. Isaac’s cadral in St Petersburg in a lavish ceremony. Grand Duke’s great-grandfar, Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich, was one of Romav family members who fled to Finland in 1917 to escape Russian Revolution. 

Romav dynasty reportedly ruled Russia for over three centuries before Tsar Nicholas II was abdicated in 1917. Mikhailovich’s great-grandfar was a cousin of Russia’s last Tsar who was killed by a revolutionary firing squad with his wife and five children in 1918. Romav dynasty’s rule end in 1917 was followed by Bolshevik revolution and 70 years of Communist rule, as per a BBC report. first Russian royal wedding in more than 100 years was conducted by country’s Orthodox clergy. 

Guestlist of 1,500 people had prominent names

As per BBC report, guest list of 1,500 people for royal wedding had prominent names including a monarchist and billionaire with close ties to Russian government; Konstantin Malofeev and Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. As per a Firstpost report, hundreds of foreign guests travelled to Russia’s second city for Orthodox Christian ceremony including former King and Queen of Bulgaria, Prince Rudolph and Princess Tilsim of Liechtenstein.

40-year-old Grand Duke studied in Oxford but has reportedly spent most of his life in France. Mikhailovich has previously worked at European Parliament and Russian mining giant rilsk Nickel. couple moved to Russia only three years ago and Bettarini converted to Orthodox faith in 2020. As per BBC, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson told reporters that Kremlin wishes newlyweds well and added that “This marri does t belong on our nda anyway.”

Additionally, Firstpost stated that Bettarini’s wedding dress train featured coat of arms of Russian empire which was embroidered in gold. Reportedly, she wore a diamond-studded tiara made by high-end jewellers Chaumet. Apart from 1,500 guests for Russian royal wedding, over 500 guests were invited to attend wedding dinner to be held at city’s Museum of Ethgraphy later on Friday. last wedding in Russia was of an heir to Romavs; that of Nicholas II and Alexandra, over a century ago.

Im: Instagram/@grand_duke_george_of_russia