We announce the following to all Our faithful subjects:

On the second day of this May, Our Beloved Daughter-in-Law, Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, Consort of Our Beloved Son, His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Wladimir Alexandrovich, gave birth to Our Grandson, who has been given the name Andrei.

Considering this addition in Our Imperial House to be a new manifestation of God’s grace, sent to Us as a comfort, We remain entirely assured that all Our faithful subjects will, together with Us, offer their fervent prayers to the Most High for the happy growth and well-being of the Newborn. We command that This, Our Beloved Grandson, the Newborn Grand Duke, should be written of and addressed in all appropriate instances with the style of His Imperial Highness.

(The original has been signed in His Imperial Majesty’s own hand:)

Alexander

Issued at Livadia, on the 2nd of this May, in the year of the Lord 1879, in the twenty-fifth year of Our Reign.