Monarchy and Restoration; Rival Families and Claimants

[branchg]

I would agree Maria has the strongest claim, even though it is flawed. But since all of the family's claims are flawed one way or another, it is my opinion she is the rightful Head of the Imperial House as her father's successor.

I do not believe she or any other Romanov would ever be called to the throne in the remote possibility of a restoration, therefore, that point is just silly. The fact is the Russian people and government can do whatever they wish in the future.

[AristoCat]

Maria needs to stop acting as she has the right to 'allow' teh Russian people the 'right' to decide what form of government that the Russians 'deserve' to have. The Russian people decided in 1905 and 1917 what form of government that they would have and that is the end of it. It was a HUGE mistake to embrace Communism, but the revolution could have just as easily gone to Socialism or like the French, killed their RF and then ended up with one philosophy or another. It's in the hands of the Russians and the Russians only.

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by AristoCat

Maria needs to stop acting as she has the right to 'allow' teh Russian people the 'right' to decide what form of government that the Russians 'deserve' to have.

Honestly, do you have some kind of axe to grind with the Grand Duchess? Because that sentence makes little sense, grammatically or factually. Maria Vladimirovna has never acted like she and she alone is the sole arbiter of the fate of the Russian people and their governmental system.

Originally Posted by AristoCat

The Russian people decided in 1905 and 1917 what form of government that they would have and that is the end of it.

Did they really? Or did the Bolsheviks just gain the upper hand in the civil war and as a result end up ruling the country in a manner just as harsh as (if not worse than) the Tsars. At the end of the day, I really doubt the Russian people as a whole had a lot to do with the decision.

[TomBert]

Some people really do seem to have an axe to grind against Grand Duchess Maria. What amuses me is that if she is so bloody horrible, why visit a discussion where she is undoubtedly going to be mentioned. Then, instead of adding to the discussion, we get posts, ad-nauseum, on how the people of Russia are not interested in a restoration and that should be an end to it. Obviously the people of Russia are not interested in a restoration, nobody is denying that. But why should that stifle discussions by people who do have an interest in theoretical monarchical options in for Russia?

[Artemisia]

Looks like there is a new claimant in the block!

Boris Berezovsky suggested Prince Harry as a candidate for the Emperor of All Russians
Berezovsky wants Prince Harry to become Emperor of Russia

Russian businessman Boris Berezovsky, on the occasion of Easter turned to his subscribers on Facebook with a number of unexpected initiatives. He believes that Russia should restore the constitutional monarchy, and a possible candidate for the throne is a British Prince Harry, who has "more Russian blood in his veins that the last Tsar Nicholas II".
According to the businessman, the return of monarchical form of government would be able to restore the interrupted connection of times, and would become a symbol of the resurrection of Russia. "
Prince Harry - the younger son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana - is one of the best-known symbols of modern civilised world, and a perfect candidate. He also has more Russian blood than the last tsar; his paternal great-grandmother - Olga Konstantinovna, the Queen of Greece - was from the House of Romanov.

Google translation of the first article
Google translation of the second article

[Furienna]

I doubt that Harry has more Russian blood than what Nicholas II did. And if Russia should have a monarchy again (which I find unlikely), I think a Romanov should take the throne.

[Kataryn]

Originally Posted by Artemisia

Looks like there is a new claimant in the block!

Boris Berezovsky suggested Prince Harry as a candidate for the Emperor of All Russians
Berezovsky wants Prince Harry to become Emperor of Russia




Google translation of the first article
Google translation of the second article

Not sure about the Russian blood, though.
Peter I. had a Russian father and mother. But of his descendants, all were either childless or married to German Princes/Princesses.

Okay, if we look at it carefully, the last of the Romanovs ruler to have real (as in: from both sides) Russian blood was Anna I. Iwanowa, whose father Iwan V. (Peter I.'s half-brother) was married to a Russian. She died in 1740. From then on, the "Russian" blood of the Romanovs was "diluted" by marriages to mostly Germans or Royals with Germanic blood (Denmark, Britain).

Okay, so I accept Nicholas II. was not really a Russian. But Harry's great-great grandmother Olga Konstantinova wasn't either.... ????

[Artemisia]

Obviously Harry hasn't got more Russian blood than Nicholas II.
Nicholas II had as much Russian blood as Olga Konstantinovna; naturally, the latter's grandson cannot be more "Russian".

I wouldn't really take Berezovsky's words seriously; no one in Russia does. In West, he may be viewed as an opposer to Putin's regime who was forced into exile; however all Russians think of him is a corrupt businessmen who embezzled the country's billions, lives luxurious life in London and has the nerve to teach Russians how to live or how to deal with corrupt politicians.

It's just a funny article to ease the overly serious tone of this thread; restoration in Russia isn't going to happen any time soon, if ever.

[Alexey 1904]

Nicholas didn't have any Russian blood, did he? His father was German, and his mother was Danish and German. Henry is mostly German and whatever his mother was. The blood he 'inherited' from his great-great grandma equals an eighth of a teaspoon at best. I guess you're right about the restoration part.

[Grandduchess24]

How could prince Harry have more Russian blood than czar Nicholas II? Sure they are related in some way but Harry has I guess more German ancestry than Russian, plus czar Alexander III and dowager empress Maria fyodorovna although were Russian and Danish respectively but both had German ancestry. Harry is just a prince of wales with no or little Russian ancestry and a British prince with German, Scottish ancestry.

[Benedict XVI]

Does anyone know if prince Harry even speaks Russian? Next thing is that he is church of england. No were near orthodox. I doubt that he would want to leave his home country for Russia (it is quite a bit different). Or let's say that William dies (god forbid) without a child (probably won't happen) then Harry would be the next in line.

Some I the good things he would have is that he is used to living in a constitutional monarchy if Russia would reinstate there monarchy it would be a lot like England. He knows what it takes to
Be a monarch, he knows the tools of the trade to an extent.

I personally believe that he would make a great Tsar for Russia. or GD Maria would make just as good of a Tsarina maybe better, only time will tell who would be better. I also believe that Harry is just as happy not having the burdens of the crown.

[Artemisia]

Harry most definitely doesn't speak Russian.

While I have no doubts Harry would make a fine Monarch, his chances of becoming Russian tsar (assuming Monarchy is reinstated) are virtually non-existant. If Monarchy were reinstated, it is much likelier a Romanov would assume the Throne; even Prince Michael of Kent is a more feasible candidate (simply because most Russians find his resemblance to Nicholas II quite uncanny). But Prince Harry? Hardly. No one takes Boris Berezovsky seriously in Russia; I'd strongly suggest all of you not to as well.

As explained in a previous post, I merely posted those articles to lighten the overly-serious mood in this thread.

[NotHRH]

Yes, many people have very vivid imaginations. Very vivid imaginations.

[branchg]

Originally Posted by Kataryn

Not sure about the Russian blood, though.
Peter I. had a Russian father and mother. But of his descendants, all were either childless or married to German Princes/Princesses.

Okay, if we look at it carefully, the last of the Romanovs ruler to have real (as in: from both sides) Russian blood was Anna I. Iwanowa, whose father Iwan V. (Peter I.'s half-brother) was married to a Russian. She died in 1740. From then on, the "Russian" blood of the Romanovs was "diluted" by marriages to mostly Germans or Royals with Germanic blood (Denmark, Britain).

Okay, so I accept Nicholas II. was not really a Russian. But Harry's great-great grandmother Olga Konstantinova wasn't either.... ????

Almost all of Europe's royal houses are German in blood, due to the numerous Germanic duchies, grand duchies, kingdoms and mediatized houses to choose from when everyone had to marry equally.

Harry doesn't speak Russian nor is he Orthodox, so it's kind of hilarious that he would be suggested as Tsar. I think his cousin, Prince Michael of Kent, would make more sense if they're picking from the House of Windsor.

[Furienna]

I'm sorry if I've missed something here, but why exactly would Michael of Kent make more sense?

[NGalitzine]

Originally Posted by Furienna

I'm sorry if I've missed something here, but why exactly would Michael of Kent make more sense?

He speaks Russian, has existing business relationships with Russia, has been awarded the Order of Friendship by the Russian government, his grandmother was a Russian Grand Duchess, and of course there is the physical resemblance to the late Tsar Nicholas II.

[Artemisia]

Originally Posted by Furienna

I'm sorry if I've missed something here, but why exactly would Michael of Kent make more sense?

Prince Michael has pretty high profile in Russia; in fact, he's the most well-known British royal after the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles & family. He visits Moscow quite often and his visits are usually highlighted in the newspapers. Russians are rather fond of him, mostly because of his uncanny resemblance to the last Tsar. He also speaks reasonably good Russian, which only boosts his popularity. And he certainly has more Russian blood in his veins than Prince Harry.

[Furienna]

I see. That's interesting. But I doubt there will be a monarchy again in Russia anyhow.

[COUNTESS]

I am sure the last place on earth Harry would want to be is Russia. It is not his style.

[Benedict XVI]

Let's say for instance that they held a referendum and 53% of people vote in favor of a restoration (the support isn't there but let's just say) now why happens? Do they have to rewrite the succession rules? Will they hold another referendum with the people voting on who will be the next tsar or Tsarina?