Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia
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Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia (Russian: Georgiy Mikhailovich Romanov, Russian Cyrillic: Георгий Михайлович Романов; born March 13, 1981) is the heir apparent to Maria Vladimirovna, Grand Duchess of Russia, a pretender to the defunct throne of the Russian Empire and to the disputed Headship of the Imperial House of Romanov. He claims the historical title of Tsarevich, but habitually uses Grand Duke of Russia with the style of Imperial Highness. As a legitimate, dynastic and patrilineal great-great-grandson of the last German Emperor to reign, Wilhelm II, the title "Prince of Prussia" and the style of Royal Highness are also attributed to him.
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[edit] Early life
George was born in Madrid in 1981, the son of Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia (at the time styled HIH Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich of Russia) and Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, only child of Vladimir Cyrillovich, Grand Duke of Russia. He was baptised on May 6, 1981, in Madrid; his godfather is King Constantine II of Greece. Also present at the baptism were King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain and King Simeon II and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria.[1]
Following his birth George was given the title Grand Duke of Russia by his maternal grandfather.[2] Prince Vasili Alexandrovich, then president of the Romanov Family Association, responded in writing that, "The Romanov Family Association hereby declares that the joyful event in the Prussian Royal House does not concern the Romanov Family Association since the newborn prince is not a member of either the Russian Imperial House or of the Romanov family".[3]
In anticipation of his eventual succession as pretender and with his maternal grandfather's approval, George was registered with the French authorities as "Grand Duke George of Russia".[3] His parents separated in 1982 and divorced in 1985. His father, who stopped using his Russian title after his separation, has said of his son "I have his German passport right here; I always carry it with me. It says he is Prince George of Prussia".[3]
George spent the first years of his life in France before moving to Spain.[4] There he and his mother lived, along with his maternal grandmother, in the home of his maternal half-aunt, Helen Kirby, who inherited a significant fortune from her father, Sumner Moore Kirby.
[edit] Heir to his mother
On April 21, 1992, upon the death of his maternal grandfather Grand Duke Vladimir Cyrillovich, George's mother claimed to have succeeded as the sovereign and Curatrix of the Throne of Russia[5], making him, to supporters of his mother, heir-apparent and tsarevich. He visited Russia for the first time shortly thereafter to attend the funeral of his grandfather.[4] His claim to the throne is contested, for reasons detailed in the article on the line of succession to the Russian throne.
In 1996, when he, his mother, and his grandmother Leonida returned to Russia after living in Madrid, one of President Boris Yeltsin's former bodyguards was assigned as tutor to the 15-year-old prince. He was also set to study at a Russian Naval college but these plans were dropped out of concern that he would be bullied.[6]
When asked by reporters if he expected the monarchy in Russia to be restored some day, he replied, "I hope so."[citation needed] George is also in the line of succession to the British Throne.
[edit] Education and career
George was educated in the United Kingdom, including at St Benet's Hall, Oxford.
In Brussels, George worked at the European Parliament where he was an assistant to Loyola de Palacio, former European Commissioner for Transport and Energy. Later he moved to Luxembourg where he was employed at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Atomic Energy and Security.
On December 12, 2008, George was appointed an aide to the Director General of MMC Norilsk Nickel, a major Russian nickel-mining company.[7]
==Awards==
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- Order of St. Andrew the First-Called
- Order of St. Alexander Nevsky
- Order of the White Eagle
- Order of St. Anna 1st Class
- Order of Saint Stanislaus 1st Class
- Order of the Black Eagle (Kingdom of Prussia)
- The Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation (House of Savoy)[8]
- Knight of the Grand Cross Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (House of Savoy)
- Grand Cross Order of Saint Michael of the Wing (Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza)
- Cross of Russian Nobility Association 1st Class
[edit] Ancestry
[edit] References
- ^ Succession to the Imperial throne of Russia (Note: referenced document written in support of a disputed point of view.)
- ^ Massie p. 264
- ^ a b c Massie, 270.
- ^ a b "Georgii Mikhailovich". imperialhouse.ru. http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/imperialhouse/chipdom/georgiy.html. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
- ^ Dynastic Succession
- ^ Slater, Wendy (2007). The Many Deaths of Tsar Nicholas II. Routledge. p. 56. ISBN 0415345162.
- ^ "Georgy Romanov appointed as Advisor to General Director of MMC Norilsk Nickel".
- ^ Dynastic Succession
- Massie, Robert K.. The Romanovs The Final Chapter. Jonathan Cape. ISBN 0224041924.
[edit] External links
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Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia
Cadet branch of the House of Hohenzollern
Born: 13 March 1981 |
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| Russian royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Maria Vladimirovna, Grand Duchess of Russia |
Line of succession to the British Throne 112th position |
Succeeded by Princess Cécilia of Leiningen |
| First in line | Line of succession to the Russian throne 1st position |
Last in line |
| Preceded by Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia |
Line of succession to the German throne 8th position |
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