Friday, October 25, 2013

No Russian marriage for Margaret of Connaught



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October 25, 1899

Grand Duke Michael of Russia has been visiting the Duke and Duchess of Connaught at Abergeldie Castle at Balmoral, and "making the acquaintance of the Duke's eldest child, Princess Margaret," although it is unlikely that there will be an engagement announcement, reports the Marquise de Fontenoy.

The Duke of Connaught is a soldier and Queen Victoria's favorite son. 

The engagement is certainly desired by the Grand Duke's family -- he is the younger brother of Nicholas II -- but the marriage is unlikely to take place. Because Princess Margaret is the desired bride,  Grand Duke Michael will do the opposite of what his family wants, and "marry someone else."

The Marquise also notes that Michael's older brother, Nicholas, was expected to marry Princess Helen of Montenegro,  as she was brought up at the Court of St. Petersburg, and "under the supervision" of Nicholas' mother, who believed Helen fitted the position of Empress of Russia.

But at the last moment, Nicholas "declined to conform himself to the views of his parents," and married instead Princess Alix of Hesse and By Rhine.   He, according to this report, experienced great difficulty in "obtaining his father's consent" to his marriage.  

Helen is now the wife of the Crown Prince of Italy.

2 comments:

Bill said...

interesting to see Helen of Montenegro linked to Nicholas, I have never seen that mentioned before.

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

the marquis de fontenay was a gossip columnist who made up a lot of stuff or depended on the European gossips. Elena was never considered. There were reports of Helene of Orleans, but Nicholas was in love with Alix.