Pages of History. Love will always find its way

Duke Georg of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was instructed to marry one of the Russian Grand Duchesses or foreign princesses. After all, he belonged to two ruling European dynasties at once - the House of Romanov by mother and the Grand Ducal House by father Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and the written and unwritten laws of all august families presuppose marriages only with themselves equal. This was the duty of the sovereign not only to the family, but also to his state, the people.

The rulers approached the choice of bride, groom very responsibly: personal acquaintances during summer trips to Europe were often preceded by the exchange of portraits, photographs (with the advent of light painting) - so in absentia acquainted the elect with each other. Not always such a marriage was concluded on the personal inclination of young people, but always in the interests of the state. Even at the end of the 19th century, when at the state level a groom was chosen for the sister of the Duke of Mecklenburg, they did not hesitate to say that for the sake of Russia�s political interests the bride would tolerate any applicant. So it was a kind of lottery !

Duke George Georgievich Mecklenburg-Strelitzky was lucky: he met the love of his life. It was the lady-in-waiting of his mother, Grand Duchess Catherine Mikhailovna � untitled noblewoman Natalia Vanlyarskaya. Several years preceded the conclusion of a happy marriage - it was necessary to understand their feelings, understand the seriousness of intentions (more often the lovers turned into civil spouses or the novel turned into a short affair), and then start fighting for their right to choose.

The Duke negotiated with his cousin Alexander III, with his mother and the Mecklenburg House in Germany, where his personal trip was required to settle all formalities. All details were provided: the duke renounced the right to the throne in Mecklenburg, his chosen one in marriage received the title Countess of Charles (according to the abbey in the Mecklenburg Duchy), the same title, and not the father�s, were to be inherited by future children, the duke for deviating from the rules (and his family) was forbidden to continue to step on Mecklenburg land. In Russia, in the event of the death of Duke George, neither his widow nor future children had the right to inherit the palace property.

Duke Georgy Georgievich Mecklenburg-Strelitsky fulfilled numerous formalities with honor, and on February 2, 1890, a wedding was held in the palace church of the Mikhailovsky Palace in the presence of the Emperor. It was an extremely happy marriage until the very end of the Duke�s short life.
And this couple - the Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitzky and Countess Karlova - the grandfather and grandmother of our Prince Golitsyn.

Better than the historian Galina Popova in his book, no one told about the history of love and marriage of the Duke and the maid of honor of his mother.

In the photo below you see Countess Karlova in a suit specially made for the Historical Ball of 1903. More information about the grandiose holiday can be found at the lecture to the 120th anniversary of the event:

N.I.Tarasova (The Hermitage). THE LAST �RUSSIAN� BALL OF EMPIRE
28th of February, Tuesday
from 18:00
Fontanka, 44, media hall, 2nd floor