Grand Duke Georgi, son and heir of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna (2008-Oct. 2021)

[Chubb Fuddler]

If I was the Grand Duchess I wouldn't look very pleased either, with Mr Paul Hohenzollern standing so close by.

[Duc_et_Pair]

The gentleman also was wearing a weird combination, not at all a proper white tie. He looks like a parvenu.

[Chubb Fuddler]

Yes, he really is beyond a joke. I feel sorry for the young boy he and his wife acquired from who-know-where. I don't know if they claim his birth was natural, but given Mrs Hohenzollern was pushing 60 when young Carol Ferdinand was born, I somehow doubt it.

[Al_bina]

It is somewhat surreal that the Romanovs attend a wedding of the Afghan royalty.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Al_bina

It is somewhat surreal that the Romanovs attend a wedding of the Afghan royalty.

I agree. I would keep myself far away from that wasps nest. The Russians, pardon: the Soviets, never should have invaded Afghanistan back then in 1980 anyway.

[Al_bina]

Given the current defenders of freedom and democracy in Afghanistan and their total defeat, it would be better not to mention to the Soviets.

On a different note ... the Romanovs fought hard for the supremacy in the Central Asia in the late 1800s.

[COUNTESS]

It is a long time since the 1800's and 100 years since Romanov's mattered. They went to the wedding, because anything royal makes them look royal.

[Chubb Fuddler]

I say, Countess, don’t you get bored writing negative comments about Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and her son? I’ve just done a quick search and you have posted over 360 times in the Russian Imperial Family thread. I cannot claim to have read each message, but every one I have looked at oozes disapproval. I don’t think I could stay motivated to write variations on the same theme, year after year, on a topic that so clearly makes me grumpy. If, as you say, it is nearly 100 years since a Romanov mattered, how do you maintain the rage? Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying you should pull your head in. I’m just puzzled by such a commitment to cranky comments.

[Duc_et_Pair]

From the whole bunch of Romanovs left I can not filter out any better figurehead than Maria Vladimirovna Romanova. Personal liking or not, at least she shows the commitment, zest and willpower to stand for her convince and her case. That is more than what I can say from the other Romanovs, being splendid in absence.

[wyevale]

I’m just puzzled by such a commitment to cranky comments.

Cranky is... as cranky does...

[COUNTESS]

Originally Posted by Chubb Fuddler

I say, Countess, don’t you get bored writing negative comments about Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and her son? I’ve just done a quick search and you have posted over 360 times in the Russian Imperial Family thread. I cannot claim to have read each message, but every one I have looked at oozes disapproval. I don’t think I could stay motivated to write variations on the same theme, year after year, on a topic that so clearly makes me grumpy. If, as you say, it is nearly 100 years since a Romanov mattered, how do you maintain the rage? Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying you should pull your head in. I’m just puzzled by such a commitment to cranky comments.

Just frank observations. If you have read most of my comments about Georgi, I have called him sweet, kind and loving. I, really, do not know this for a fact, but he seems to be just that. I was a Russian History major, I am quite well aware of the lives and reigns of the Romanovs, some good, mostly bad for Russians, Autocracy in itself is an anachronism today, but it was back in the 1900's, too. Queen Victoria, disliked the Russian form of government and many of them,, themselves. She saw them as decadent, self serving and overindulgent. But, I digress. I have nothing against Georgi and his mother. They are playing the part they feel they need to, but it will lead to no where. He is a young man and can have a happy future with a nice young lady and not have to live in a past, he, really has never been part of. Maria, has nothing else and I hate to see her manipulate this kind young man.

[Chubb Fuddler]

Originally Posted by COUNTESS

I have nothing against Georgi and his mother.

I realised this morning that I should not have said you make negative comments about Georgi Mikhailovich, as quite clearly you have not. But, come now Countess, it is a bit naughty of you claim that you do not have anything against Maria Vladimirovna. You acknowledge that you do not know for a fact that Georgi Mikhailovich is a nice, loving young man. Yet when it comes to his mother you claim she manipulates him. But where is the evidence for this accusation? Has the young man himself complained to you about his domineering mother? I can see it now:

“Countess, you don’t know how unbearable she is. Even when she’s making blini for supper she goes on about how the perfect MARRIAGE of flavours can only come from using ingredients of EQUAL high quality. You’d be amazed at how many times in one day she can slip into a normal conversation comments like: BREAK A MOTHER’S HEART, HOURS OF PAINFUL LABOUR, TEARS OF BITTER DISAPOINTMENT OF THE HOLY PASSION BEARERS, GRANDFATHER SPINNING IN HIS TOMB etc. etc. As for the word MORGANATIC, well, little surprise there that it is usually followed by something like DEAD TO ME FOR EVER. It really is very tiresome.”

Maybe, just maybe, Georgi Mikhailovich wants to support his mother. Odder things have happened. Maybe, just maybe, Maria Vladimirovna is a kind, loving mother who will do anything for her son, even change the 200-year-old succession laws. Will it all lead to nowhere? Well it depends, I suppose, on your definition of “nowhere”. Restoration? Not likely. A full life of cultural, religious and charitable engagements; busy official visits to countries and communities all over the world; and regular royal get togethers. That’s a pretty big, bulging diary of “nothing” to my way of thinking.

So go on, Countess, admit it. Your antipathy towards Maria Vladimirovna is quite irrational. She gives you the irrits, and provokes you to make grouchy unfounded generalisations about her. I can quite see the temptation to do so. It’s a bit like picking an old scab; sometimes you just can’t help yourself.

[COUNTESS]

Actually, I find her an anachronism. And you are right, I watch the photos of mother and son and he looks to me, as I said I don't know, but quite loving to his mother. She is in charge. And if you hear the same stuff, long enough you follow suit. I think (again supposition) he would not hurt her for the world and will follow her lead for his life. He is not "a looker", but I think he is sweet (again supposition) and finding him the proper wife is nonsense. He just deserves a wife that he loves and loves him and she has prepared him for a throne that does not exist and probably will never exist.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Well I see no difference between Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and her son Georgy when I look to (then) Queen Beatrix and her son Willem-Alexander. Both couples showed a strong, self-assured, determined and dominating mother with a loyal, devoted and obeying son on the second plan.

As Prince Willem-Alexander started to marry, grow a family and mature towards his fifties, the relationship between mother and son became more in balance, also probably because the mother saw that "her product" began to mould into the desired shape.

I think this is the same with Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna. When Georgy marries, forms a family and advance into his fifties like Willem-Alexander, automatically the balance in the relationship between mother-and-son will change.

[COUNTESS]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

Well I see no difference between Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and her son Georgy when I look to (then) Queen Beatrix and her son Willem-Alexander. Both couples showed a strong, self-assured, determined and dominating mother with a loyal, devoted and obeying son on the second plan.

As Prince Willem-Alexander started to marry, grow a family and mature towards his fifties, the relationship between mother and son became more in balance, also probably because the mother saw that "her product" began to mould into the desired shape.

I think this is the same with Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna. When Georgy marries, forms a family and advance into his fifties like Willem-Alexander, automatically the balance in the relationship between mother-and-son will change.

You don't see the difference? Beatrix, to me she still has the title of queen, but I know better, accepted a woman, who was of ordinary lineage, there was no talk of equal marriage. Willem-Alexander married whom he loved. And they make a great couple. Also, there was a real throne to inherit. Not a figment of imagination a hundred years old. Beatrix accepted her daughter-in-law Mabel, even though there would be a problem and wise she was. Friso and Mabel married without any hooha. He just removed himself from being in line for a real throne.

[Lee-Z]

Originally Posted by COUNTESS

You don't see the difference? Beatrix, to me she still has the title of queen, but I know better, accepted a woman, who was of ordinary lineage, there was no talk of equal marriage. Willem-Alexander married whom he loved. And they make a great couple. Also, there was a real throne to inherit. Not a figment of imagination a hundred years old. Beatrix accepted her daughter-in-law Mabel, even though there would be a problem and wise she was. Friso and Mabel married without any hooha. He just removed himself from being in line for a real throne.

Your view of the acceptance of Beatrix of her daughters in law is not quite the way it is seen in the Netherlands, but as this is a forum for the Romanov family i won't expand on that.

But why do you even visit this Romanov forum if you consider their royal status "imaginary"?

[COUNTESS]

I like to see what they imagine. I , also, am fond (for no reason at all) of Georgi and I look to see if he will be allowed to have a nice, normal life or live some fantasy without substance that was his mother's wish. I, also, am interested in how the other pretenders will react to any marriage contracted by him. It is interesting.

[Chubb Fuddler]

Sorry Countess, but I’m not convinced. I think you must enjoy stirring up trouble by sticking the boot into Maria Vladimirovna whenever the opportunity arises. Why else would you do it so often? Even in this latest comment you couldn't resist the temptation to have yet another go at her “fantasy” life. Your opinions, never followed up with a shred of evidence, have been refuted by many posters, time and again, with plenty of examples of the real and busy life led by the Grand Duchess. But, no, let’s go and on about this awful mother, who fills the empty hours of her pathetic life by harassing her son and dreaming impossible dreams. Let’s put a dampener on any conversation involving Maria Vladimirovna. Let’s snuff out everybody else’s enjoyment in discussing this colourful Grand Duchess.

Of course there is nothing wrong with expressing a contrary opinion. But to do so dozens of times does appear, to my way of thinking, a tad excessive. What motivates such an irrational need to always make a negative comment about someone? Why do we find some people, whom we have never even met, so insufferably annoying for no apparent reason? Most of us will experience this unreasonable irritation. There are a couple of interesting theories that might explain this unattractive habit:

• Someone who really annoys us might do so because we subconsciously recognize in them something we dislike about ourselves.

• Someone who really annoys us might do so because subconsciously we are envious of some aspect of their life, or something that they represent.

Is it any wonder there is so little activity on the Russian threads? What is the point of joining in when any enthusiasm is chipped away at by the endless snide comments? Very disappointing I must say.

[AristoCat]

Originally Posted by COUNTESS

Just frank observations. If you have read most of my comments about Georgi, I have called him sweet, kind and loving. I, really, do not know this for a fact, but he seems to be just that. I was a Russian History major, I am quite well aware of the lives and reigns of the Romanovs, some good, mostly bad for Russians, Autocracy in itself is an anachronism today, but it was back in the 1900's, too. Queen Victoria, disliked the Russian form of government and many of them,, themselves. She saw them as decadent, self serving and overindulgent. But, I digress. I have nothing against Georgi and his mother. They are playing the part they feel they need to, but it will lead to no where. He is a young man and can have a happy future with a nice young lady and not have to live in a past, he, really has never been part of. Maria, has nothing else and I hate to see her manipulate this kind young man.

He's no fool; he knows that his mother is defending something that he is himself ambitious for and I am certain that he will not just step aside and relinquish something he was born and bred for. He obviously has a preference for the Russian portion of his heritage and I am certain that he's going to go for a 'good' match to keep his claim going and give him what advantage that he can.

He's never shied away from promoting himself or being part of the promotion for Headship. So he's not just some naive young Mama's Boy.

[Chubb Fuddler]

Grand Duke Georgi Mikhailovich has certainly made comments that suggest he fully accepts his heritage. I've just been reading this interview he gave last year. Despite the at times stilted Google translation, his commitment to his country, his mother, and the ideals of Orthodox Monarchism are quite clear. He strikes me as a 33 year old man who seems to know his own mind, not at all a poor young boy under the thumb of his mother.