2016-05-20
The Head of the House of Romanoff and the Heir visit Crimea and Sevastopol, May 15-20, 2016
From May 15 to May 20, 2016, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, and her son and Heir, H.I.H. The Tsesarevich and Grand Duke George of Russia, traveled to Crimea and Sevastopol, a trip that coincides with the 100th anniversary of the last visit of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers Emperor Nicholas II and his family to Crimea. Their Imperial Highnesses arrived in Crimea on the invitation of the Speaker of the State Assembly of the Republic of Crimea, Vladimir Andreevich Konstantinov. This visit of the Head of the House of Romanoff and the Tsesarevich is their first visit since the unification of Crimea with Russia. Grand Duchess Maria of Russia had previously been to Crimea as part of her visits to Ukraine in 2011 and 2013. Grand Duke George visited Crimea for the first time in 2013 together with his mother.
Accompanying Their Imperial Highness were the Director of the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, Alexander N. Zakatov; the advisor to the Chancellery for Interregional and International Relations, Prince Vadim O. Lopukhin; the Chief of Heraldry, Stanislaw V. Dumin, and the advisors to the Chancellery Vladislav V. Pilkevich and Kirill K. Nemirovich-Danchenko.
On May 15, Their Imperial Highnesses arrived in Moscow. First, Grand Duke George of Russia arrived from Brussels, and Grand Duchess Maria of Russia arrived later from Madrid. They were met at Sheremetevo Airport by the Permanent Representative in Moscow of the Republic of Crimea, by members of the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, and by other members of the public.