Monarchy and Restoration; Rival Families and Claimants

[Benjamin]

For context, it would be helpful to review the full decree of Grand Duchess Maria upon announcing her son's marriage:

WE
GRAND DUCHESS MARIA OF RUSSIA
BY THE GRACE OF GOD
HEAD OF THE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL HOUSE

make it known to all that

Asking the Lord’s blessing, We are pleased to grant Our permission to Our beloved son and heir, His Imperial Highness The Tsesarevich and Grand Duke GEORGE of Russia, to enter into marriage with his chosen bride, the hereditary noblewoman Rebecca Virginia Bettarini, who, on 29 June / 12 July 2020, the Feast of the Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul, in the Cathedral of Ss. Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg, was received into Holy Orthodoxy with the name VICTORIA ROMANOVNA.

We deem it proper that VICTORIA ROMANOVNA should, from the moment of her marriage with Our son, have the right to use the dynastic surname Romanoff with the title of Princess and the predicate of Serene Highness.

Announcing this event, so joyful for Our heart, and entrusting the future of our Most August son and heir, H.I.H. The Grand Duke George of Russia, and his future wife to the almighty protection of the Heavenly King, with firm faith in His mercy, We have every confidence that Our countrymen will join their prayers with Ours to Almighty God for a happy marriage, prosperity, and the blessing of children.

Issued in Madrid on the 20th day of January in the year of Our Lord 2021, and in the thirtieth year since Our succession to the rights and duties of Our Most August Ancestors—the Emperors and Empresses of Russia.

The original is signed in Her Imperial Highness’s own hand:

MARIA

As Head of House, Grand Duchess Maria granted her permission for the marriage to take place, in accordance with the Fundamental Laws. Princess Victoria had already converted to Russian Orthodoxy, so she met the religious requirement. Grand Duchess Maria then went on to implicitly state that her daughter-in-law would bear the dynastic surname. These are very clear indications that the marriage is not regarded as unequal.

[Tatiana Maria]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

As Head of House, Grand Duchess Maria granted her permission for the marriage to take place, in accordance with the Fundamental Laws. Princess Victoria had already converted to Russian Orthodoxy, so she met the religious requirement. Grand Duchess Maria then went on to implicitly state that her daughter-in-law would bear the dynastic surname. These are very clear indications that the marriage is not regarded as unequal.

I understand your point of view, but there is also the contraindication of Maria not bestowing the titles of Grand Duchess/Duke and Imperial Highness on her son's wife and child following the precedent of past equal marriages, and the absence of a public announcement about amendments to the equality rules. But if she has secretly made modifications or exceptions to her house rules, then I am sure they will be made public in due course.

[SirGyamfi1]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

For context, it would be helpful to review the full decree of Grand Duchess Maria upon announcing her son's marriage:

WE
GRAND DUCHESS MARIA OF RUSSIA
BY THE GRACE OF GOD
HEAD OF THE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL HOUSE

make it known to all that

Asking the Lord’s blessing, We are pleased to grant Our permission to Our beloved son and heir, His Imperial Highness The Tsesarevich and Grand Duke GEORGE of Russia, to enter into marriage with his chosen bride, the hereditary noblewoman Rebecca Virginia Bettarini, who, on 29 June / 12 July 2020, the Feast of the Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul, in the Cathedral of Ss. Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg, was received into Holy Orthodoxy with the name VICTORIA ROMANOVNA.

We deem it proper that VICTORIA ROMANOVNA should, from the moment of her marriage with Our son, have the right to use the dynastic surname Romanoff with the title of Princess and the predicate of Serene Highness.

Announcing this event, so joyful for Our heart, and entrusting the future of our Most August son and heir, H.I.H. The Grand Duke George of Russia, and his future wife to the almighty protection of the Heavenly King, with firm faith in His mercy, We have every confidence that Our countrymen will join their prayers with Ours to Almighty God for a happy marriage, prosperity, and the blessing of children.

Issued in Madrid on the 20th day of January in the year of Our Lord 2021, and in the thirtieth year since Our succession to the rights and duties of Our Most August Ancestors—the Emperors and Empresses of Russia.

The original is signed in Her Imperial Highness’s own hand:

MARIA

As Head of House, Grand Duchess Maria granted her permission for the marriage to take place, in accordance with the Fundamental Laws. Princess Victoria had already converted to Russian Orthodoxy, so she met the religious requirement. Grand Duchess Maria then went on to implicitly state that her daughter-in-law would bear the dynastic surname. These are very clear indications that the marriage is not regarded as unequal.

Equal marriage has nothing to do with her taking the last name of the family or not, but the “title and style” she would be addressed as wife of the “head of the family”. Plus I’m not going over the marriage being equal or not because everyone knows the answer to that.

[SirGyamfi1]

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

I understand your point of view, but there is also the contraindication of Maria not bestowing the titles of Grand Duchess/Duke and Imperial Highness on her son's wife and child following the precedent of past equal marriages, and the absence of a public announcement about amendments to the equality rules. But if she has secretly made modifications or exceptions to her house rules, then I am sure they will be made public in due course.

I agree with you here, thank you very much for saying it better than I could.

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by SirGyamfi1

Equal marriage has nothing to do with her taking the last name of the family or not, but the “title and style” she would be addressed as wife of the “head of the family”. Plus I’m not going over the marriage being equal or not because everyone knows the answer to that.

In the Russian Imperial House, being able to bear the dynastic surname is intrinsically tied to being a member of the house. This is the reason why the morganauts are Romanovskys, Ilynskys, etc., and not Romanoff - in the eyes of the head of the house.