by Elena Chinkova
[REGNUM] On December 23, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna Romanova celebrates her 70th birthday.In an exclusive interview with IA Regnum , the head of the Russian Imperial House told how life in the West has changed and whether she plans to finally return to her homeland. She also shared rare photographs from her personal archive, many of which had never been published before.
IA Regnum: How was your visit to Russia on the eve of your 70th anniversary? Is the route difficult and how often do you come here now?
Maria Romanova: Since 1992, when I first came to my homeland, more than 100 of my visits have already taken place. I visited most regions of the Russian Federation and a number of neighboring countries. Recently, due to the deteriorating international situation, organizing visits has become more difficult. But at least once a year I visit Russia. This time I limited myself to St. Petersburg and Moscow.
In the Northern capital, in particular, I donated sacred vessels for the ship’s temple of the cruiser Aurora. They were received by Archpriest Alexander Tkachenko , who, in addition to being the head of the Circle of Good Foundation, which helps children with serious and rare diseases, also takes care of the St. Nicholas Church restored at Aurora.
Here in 2017, on the 100th anniversary of the revolution, I attended a memorial service for all the victims of the fratricidal civil war - both red and white. I consider it important that this peacemaking tradition be preserved, and I try to take part in the life of the temple on Aurora as much as possible.
For a long time, the cruiser was associated mainly with the revolution. But she had a heroic military past as a ship in the Imperial Navy. And today it should be a symbol of patriotism and unity, not division and confrontation.
It was also interesting to learn from Metropolitan Barsanuphius of St. Petersburg and Ladoga about the social work of the church to maintain the social activity of pensioners. Often people who have retired are still full of strength, but do not find areas of application and feel unclaimed. This has a depressing effect on them.
The Church offers pensioners various feasible forms of participation in those activities where they have knowledge and skills. I believe that this is an extremely useful area of social service for the church. We will cooperate in this direction.
And at the Mikhailovsky Theater in St. Petersburg I attended the ballet “La Bayadère” - I’m talking about this because I was invited to watch it by the famous Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato , who has been heading the theater’s ballet troupe since 2019. He sincerely loves Russian culture and was not afraid to stay in Russia.
IA Regnum: How will you celebrate the anniversary? Should we expect something similar and large-scale with the participation of European nobility, as at your son’s wedding in St. Petersburg in October 2021?
Maria Romanova: My son’s wedding was solemn only to the extent that tradition required it. We have significantly reduced the historical ceremony in accordance with modern requirements of life. And this was still before the tragic events that we are now experiencing.
I never liked lavish celebrations at all. I didn’t celebrate my 50th or 60th birthday in any special way. Moreover, now, when a special military operation is underway in Ukraine and many families have experienced grief due to the death of loved ones, wide celebrations are completely inappropriate.
I ask everyone who would like to congratulate me to do so in the form of charitable assistance to those in need and prayer for me and my family.
Ordinary citizens are not infected with Russophobia
IA Regnum: Has your life changed in the West after February 24, 2022? Are there people in your circles who are not infected with Russophobia, who understand Russia’s position?
Maria Romanova : I can’t say that my life has changed because of anti-Russian sentiments. In Spain, and in most other countries, ordinary citizens are not infected with Russophobia. Not because of great love for Russia, but simply because they have enough problems of their own. So there are no everyday problems on this basis.
Statesmen of Western countries, no matter how inclined they are towards Russia, understand that the Russian Imperial House will never become an instrument of anti-Russian policy. Therefore, I don’t feel any attempts at pressure from this side either.
Life, of course, has changed. In another sense, anxiety intensified. My heart aches because once again, as during the years of the civil war, the blood of the fraternal peoples of our common Fatherland, which is spiritually and culturally incomparably wider than the current political borders, has been shed.
There are people abroad, including among politicians, who sensibly assess the situation and understand that Russia’s position cannot be ignored, that it is unfair to apply double standards to it and try to strangle it with sanctions. We conduct a dialogue with everyone and try to explain the current international situation from the perspective of the historical process.
As one European diplomat said about us: “We know the position of the Grand Duchess, we do not share it, but we understand it . ” This is, in general, a positive formula. It is absurd to expect that other states will completely take our position and defend not their own interests, but ours. Just like we should never forget about the priority of our Russian interests.
If we look back into the past, we will see that confrontations almost never end with someone's complete victory and someone's complete defeat. And if this happens, then a phase of revanchism will certainly begin.
And if there is dialogue, if there is mutual respect, then it is possible to reach a compromise that is non-humiliating and acceptable to everyone, ensuring the security of each country and general international security.
International politics should be like a chess tournament, not like fights without rules. Therefore, extremist actions and statements regarding our homeland, attempts to “cancel Russian culture” and similar phenomena are unacceptable not only for us, but also for any reasonable people, even if they are our rivals in the international arena.
I pray that peace will reign in Ukraine as soon as possible. But I am convinced that this peace cannot be established and, in any case, will not be lasting, unless the security of the Russian Federation is fully ensured. Many people in the West agree with me on this.
About moving and life outcomes
IA Regnum: Do you allow yourself to move to Russia in the future, closer to your son and grandson?
Maria Romanova: I am glad that my son and his family finally have their own nest in their homeland. I hope that I too will have such happiness. This is not an entirely simple question in both the official and everyday senses. But there is already some progress. God willing, a place will appear that will be, in the full sense, my Russian home.
IA Regnum: As a rule, certain results are summed up for anniversaries. What parts of your incredible life are remembered with special warmth and pride, and what parts are remembered with regret?
Maria Romanova: I feel with reverence and gratitude that my compatriots have retained love and respect for our House, compassion and understanding of our destiny, and a willingness to cooperate with us. I felt this during my first visit and since then I have not been disappointed in the least.
I regret that we do not have enough strength and capabilities to do everything we have planned, that we are not able to help everyone who asks for support, that some good initiatives have not been developed due to bureaucratic indifference or because of our own shortcomings.
However, as I enter the next decade of my life, I look forward with hope, optimism and faith that God will help us serve and benefit Russia.
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Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna (born December 23, 1953 in Madrid) is the granddaughter of Nicholas II's cousin , Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich.
Studied at Oxford University. In 1976 she married Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia , great-grandson of Kaiser Wilhelm II (in Orthodoxy, Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich ). In 1981, their son Georgy Mikhailovich Romanov was born. In 1985, the marriage was dissolved.
Maria Vladimirovna Romanova is related to all European royal dynasties. A number of morganatic male-line descendants of the Romanovs dispute her dynastic rights.