Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia

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 claimant to the disputed Headship of the Imperial Family of Russia. He uses the titles of Tsarevich and Grand Duke of Russia and is also a Prince of Prussia with the style of Royal Highness.

Early life

He 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. He was christened on May 6 1981 in Madrid and his godfather is King Constantine II of Greece. Also present at the christening were King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain and King Simeon II and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria. [ [http://www.riuo.org/SUCCESSION_ENGLISH.pdf Succession to the Imperial throne of Russia] ] Following his birth he was given the title Grand Duke of Russia by his maternal grandfather Grand Duke Vladimir Cyrillovich. [Massie p. 264] Prince Vasili Alexandrovich the president of the Romanov Family Association responded to this saying: cquote|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

As the accusation that he was really a German prince would be damaging in Russia his maternal grandfather legally changed his name to Romanov and George was registered with the French authorities as Grand Duke George of Russia. These actions incensed his father and 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".Massie p 270]

He spent the first years of his life in France before moving to Spain.cite web |url=http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/imperialhouse/chipdom/georgiy.html |title=Georgii Mikhailovich |accessdate=2008-08-01 |publisher=imperialhouse.ru ]

Heir to his mother

On April 21, 1992, upon the death of his maternal grandfather Grand Duke Vladimir Cyrillovich, his mother claimed to have succeeded as the sovereign and Curatrix of the Throne of Russia [ [http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/imperialhouse/succession.html Dynastic Succession] ] , making him, to supporters of his mother, heir-apparent and Tsarevitch. He visited Russia for the first time shortly after to attend the funeral of grandfather. 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 because he was afraid he would be bullied. [cite book |last=Slater |first=Wendy |title=The Many Deaths of Tsar Nicholas II |year=2007 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=0415345162 |pages=56 ]

He has since been schooled in the United Kingdom, including at St Benet's Hall, Oxford. In Brussels, George Mikhailovich 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.

When asked by reporters if he expected the monarchy in Russia to be restored some day, he replied, "I hope so." George is also in the line of succession to the British Throne.

Awards

*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), [ [http://www.chivalricorders.org/royalty/gotha/russgen.htm Dynastic Succession] ]

*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.

References

*cite book |last=Massie |first=Robert K. |authorlink=Robert K. Massie |title=The Romanovs The Final Chapter |origyear=1995 |publisher=Jonathan Cape |isbn=0224041924

External links

* [http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/ Official website of his mother]
* [http://www.preussen.de/en/heute.html Official (English-language) website of the House of Hohenzollern]