Prince Alexander Romanov
Encyclopedia
Prince Alexander Nikitich Romanov (4 November 1929 – 22 September 2002) was a Russian prince and descendant of the Imperial Family.
, the son Prince Nikita Alexandrovich of Russia and his wife Countess Mariya Ilarianovna Vorontzova-Daschkova. Prince Alexander was a grandson of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna and Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia
and a great nephew of the last Russian Emperor, Nicholas II
. He spent the early years of his life in the United Kingdom
and received British nationality in 1938.
At the outbreak of the Second World War Prince Alexander and his family were in France
and unable to return to the United Kingdom so he was taken to Rome
first and then on to Czechoslovakia
which resulted in the family almost being repatriated to Russia
. Following the conclusion of the war he returned to Britain before moving onto the United States
to study at Columbia University
. He returned to Britain in 1953 and stayed with his grandmother Grand Duchess Xenia at Hampton Court until her death in 1960.
On 27 May 1961 he became the first descendant of the Imperial Family to return to Russia after its members went into exile or were murdered by the Communists following the October Revolution
, when he managed to get a visa to join a group of tourists. During his stay he visited Moscow
and St Petersburg the former capital of the Russian Empire
.
Prince Alexander was married to Maria Valguarnera di Niscemi on 23 February 1971 at New York
in a civil marriage and they remarried on 18 July 1971 in Cannes
.
N.B. After the Russian revolution members of the Imperial family have tended to drop the territorial designation “of Russia” and use the princely title with the surname Romanov. However this title, and even his right to the surname Romanov were disputed by some.
Biography
He was born in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, the son Prince Nikita Alexandrovich of Russia and his wife Countess Mariya Ilarianovna Vorontzova-Daschkova. Prince Alexander was a grandson of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna and Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia
Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia
Grand Duke Alexander Mihailovich of Russia, Александр Михайлович Aleksandr Mihailovits was a dynast of the Russian Empire, a naval officer, an author, explorer, the brother-in-law of Emperor Nicholas II, and an advisor of the said Emperor.-Biography: Alexander was born the son of Grand Duke...
and a great nephew of the last Russian Emperor, Nicholas II
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
. He spent the early years of his life in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and received British nationality in 1938.
At the outbreak of the Second World War Prince Alexander and his family were in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and unable to return to the United Kingdom so he was taken to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
first and then on to Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
which resulted in the family almost being repatriated to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Following the conclusion of the war he returned to Britain before moving onto the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to study at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He returned to Britain in 1953 and stayed with his grandmother Grand Duchess Xenia at Hampton Court until her death in 1960.
On 27 May 1961 he became the first descendant of the Imperial Family to return to Russia after its members went into exile or were murdered by the Communists following the October Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
, when he managed to get a visa to join a group of tourists. During his stay he visited Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and St Petersburg the former capital of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
.
Prince Alexander was married to Maria Valguarnera di Niscemi on 23 February 1971 at New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in a civil marriage and they remarried on 18 July 1971 in Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
.
Title and styles
- His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Nikitch of Russia
N.B. After the Russian revolution members of the Imperial family have tended to drop the territorial designation “of Russia” and use the princely title with the surname Romanov. However this title, and even his right to the surname Romanov were disputed by some.