Monarchy and Restoration; Rival Families and Claimants

[Lenora]

More info on Alexander Baunov who proposed Harry to the throne of Russia you could find here and the interview he gave on 1 May
Ð*хо МоÑ�квы :: / Передачи / Обложка - 2 / ВоÑ�креÑ�енье, 01.05.2011: Ð�лекÑ�андр Баунов, Ð�нна Ð�емцова , корреÑ�пондент американÑ�кого журнала "Newsweek" в МоÑ�Ð
http://translate.google.ru/translate....phtml&act=url

[COUNTESS]

Some of the English is diificult to intrepret, but the Russians need Prince Harry(Henry) like a thorn in their sides. Plus, I doubt, if he would ever consent to live there. 39% is a very low number. They need democracy, not some old nonsense.

[Al_bina]

I found both Daily Mail article and interview nonsensical. The whole "Prince Harry could be the next Tsar" rides on a wave of cheap glitz and glamour of Prince William's wedding. If the restoration were to happen, there would be battle royal among current pretenders. At the same time, Mr. Baunov and Ms. Nemtsova pointed out the usual points about the Romanovs: 1) they lack unity among them; and 2) they do not appeal to a significant majority of Russians.

Originally Posted by Toscany

Why do you find this amazing?

I expected Russians to warm up to Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna. She has been recognised as the Head of the Romanovs by the Russian Orthodox Church and government. However, it appears that Russians are totally indifferent to her or her son.

[Kasumi]

Originally Posted by Al_bina

I found both Daily Mail article and interview nonsensical. The whole "Prince Harry could be the next Tsar" rides on a wave of cheap glitz and glamour of Prince William's wedding...

Well said, Al_bina!
I do absolutely agree with you.

[Cory]

Only Grand Duke George could be a future Tsar.

[BorisRom]

On April, 28 this year the quite popular (in the Russian Internet) magazine "Slon" (“Elephant”) conducts online survey (a poll)
О Ñ�вадьбе принца УильÑ�ма и необходимоÑ�ти монархии в Ð*оÑ�Ñ�ии - Ð�лекÑ�андр Баунов - Блоггеры - Slon.ru

What do you think: Russia is needing in:

Constitutional monarchy 1294 (39.43%)
Democratic Republic 756 (23.3%)
War Communism (Stalinism) 427 (13.01%)
Primitive communal system (anarchy) 389 (11.85%)
Absolute monarchy 278 (8.47%)
"Orthodox Caliphate" (theocracy of Ortodox+Muslim) 136 (4.14%)

Of course, this poll is not very valid: although today it was attended by 2,586 people, but «Slon»'s readers unlikely are a representative sample of all segments of the population of Russia. They are probably mostly upper middle class, wealthy people. Well, from this point of view, the results are interesting anyhow.

Five years ago (in 2006), the same survey (a poll) conducted a popular newspaper «Vedomosti»: 22% of the readers voted for the monarchy . Professional poll (All-Russian Center for Public Opinion Research) in 2008 showed that 19% of Russians would like to restore the monarchy in Russia. Since then, professional polls were not conducted. I think that now much more than 19% want the restoration of the monarchy in Russia.

[Cory]

The russians know Grand Duchess Maria and Grand Duke George?

[Al_bina]

Yes, Russians are aware of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and her son.

[Cory]

Which is the way the russian newspapers speak about Grand Duke George?

[Al_bina]

Although Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and Grand Duke Georgii are accepted by the Russian Orthodox Church and government, the public opinion about them is either lukewarm or absolutely indifferent. You can check the thread devoted Grand Duke to find some articles about him.

[Lenora]

Originally Posted by Cory

Which is the way the russian newspapers speak about Grand Duke George?

The official papers do not speak much of them,only official visits and duties.Unfortunately,they are not well-known from the human point of view,their portray is rather official.Many people do not completely understand why Grand Duke George is the legitimate heir.I wish Grand Duke George will carry out more engagements in Russia,as the representation and support of charitable organizations for example.

[Cory]

Obviously they are not very present in Russia and maybe that's why people do not see them if not officially.

[BorisRom]

The long article "Authorities prepares Russia for the restoration of the monarchy to the 400 th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty" was published on May 5 this year in the well-known Russian online edition «Free Press»:
Ðîññèþ ãîòîâÿò ê ïðèõîäó öàðÿ íà 400-ëåòèå Äîìà Ðîìàíîâûõ
Article authors argue that in 1996-1998, Boris Yeltsin instructed Deputy Prime Minister (and chairman of the Governmental Commission for the reburial of "the Ekaterinburg remains") Boris Nemtsov to develop a plan for restoration of constitutional monarchy (with decorative tzar 15-year George (son of G.D. Maria Vladimirovna,), but later Yeltsin rejected the plan when other advisors (not Boris Nemtsov) explained to him the dubious of the right of the son of Maria Vladimirovna to Russian imperial throne.
Article authors write also: "In 2013, the Russian government is going splendidly glorify 400 th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. In a political lobby say, that this anniversary date can be used as an excuse to restore the monarchy in the country, albeit in truncated form - headed by an Emperor with decorative functions ". The article tells also about all the possible contenders to the Russian throne, including the British Windsors (Prince Charles (son of Greek Duke Philip), and Michael of Kent, and even the young Prince Harry).
Director of the Office of the Romanov House (Alexander Zakatov) says in the article on the order of succession in terms of the Romanov House (the point of view of G.D. Maria Vladimirovna).
Indeed, perhaps, the Putin's Kremlin is considering various plans to restore the constitutional monarchy (in this case, decorative tzar, with the continuation of Putin's real power) - in the case if the social tensions and discontent of the people against the current government will rise sharply.

The authors also refer to a British newspaper "The Daily Mail" which recently published a long article with the comments on the article of A.Baulin (О Ñ�вадьбе принца УильÑ�ма и необходимоÑ�ти монархии в Ð*оÑ�Ñ�ии - Ð�лекÑ�андр Баунов - Блоггеры - Slon.ru), - about which I described in a previous post.

[Cory]

Only Grand Duchess Maria and her son can be put bon the Throne .The russians won't accept a fopreign prince.

[Lenora]

Originally Posted by Cory

Only Grand Duchess Maria and her son can be put bon the Throne .The russians won't accept a fopreign prince.

The situation is that some of Russians consider even Grand Duchess Maria and her son George foreigners,as they weren't born and raised in Russia.It would be better to present them more on TV (special programmes etc.)

[Cory]

Grand Duchess Maria and Grand Duke George were both educated as russians by Grand Duke Vladimir.

[Kasumi]

Originally Posted by Cory

Only Grand Duchess Maria and her son can be put bon the Throne .The russians won't accept a fopreign prince.

Dearest Cory, let me -- Russian -- make my modest own decision whom to consider Russian.
Most of Russians do not feel Maria Vladimirovna and her son to be of Russian ethnicity, whatever Maria Vladimirovna claims in her interviews. Her contacts with Vatican made her no good PR among the Orthodox Russian people too.

[branchg]

The Romanovs are thoroughly German, not Russian. Given Maria married a Hohenzollern and her son is a Prince of Prussia, I doubt very much the average Russian on the street is too enamoured of the idea of restoring her or George to the throne.

[KittyAtlanta]

Someone asked if I would give up my job and become Kitty the Great I. I said "no thanks."

Just kidding, of course. Thank you all for this most informative thread. I've never had much interest in things Russe, but now I do.

[Al_bina]

Originally Posted by BorisRom

The long article "Authorities prepares Russia for the restoration of the monarchy to the 400 th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty" was published on May 5 this year in the well-known Russian online edition «Free Press»:
Ðîññèþ ãîòîâÿò ê ïðèõîäó öàðÿ íà 400-ëåòèå Äîìà Ðîìàíîâûõ ... [snipped]

Thanks for the article!
I find some facts about a possible restoration quite intriguing. The fact that Prince Michael of Kent was considered as a serious candidate to be crowned in 2005-06 came as total surprise. At the same time, comments on the article are negative as usual.