Frankly most of the information on this discussion page is misinformation and distortions of information. As someone who personally knows the royal personage in question more than the average Public-your most reliable historical information about HRH Prince Michael's acncestors is not the gossip columns but two well researched books: Nicholas and Alexandria and the The Romanovs by Robert K. Massie.  The late Tzar of all Russias and his family are direct ancestors of HRH Prince Michael. HRH Michael, while not in line for the British Throne, because he married a Catholic and because he married a divorcee, is a strong contender for the Throne of Russia should ever Russia revert to a Monarchy. If you look at the photos of Nicholas II and HRH Michael there is a very strong resemblance. His children, however, are strong contenders for the British Throne because they were not raised as Catholics and were born in Britan. When the Revolution came in 1917; Lenin ordered the execution of  Tzar and his family. This put all members of the Nobility in danger and many attempted unsuccessfully to escape and were killed because most countries would not take them;those that were able to escape went to Denmark and elsewhere. Among those who escaped were Dowager Empress Marie Fedorovna who left Russia to go to Denmark only on the insistence of her sister Queen Alexandria of England. The Empress's relationship with the King of Denmark, her Nephew, of that time was not a happy one as he was always badgering, humiliating and accusing her of sponging off him-they frequently argued about moneyepecially since the Empress had brought her jewels with her and the King thought she should either sell or pawn them to pay her expenses. George V finally resolved the problem by sending his  Aunt "Minnie" an annual  pension of $48,000 US(whose US Value in 2006 would $476,888). Pleas were put in for Britain to take them. The ruling Monarch George V of England at that time refused to allow  most of the  surviving family to come to England because of diplomatic problems even though these were his close family members but when they learned that many were or had been executed often on sightBritain backed down and allowed HRH Prince Michaels ancestors to come to England. Those who were able escaped on British Warships sent for them. They arrive in England and elsewhere (Canada and the United States) basicially as paupers or near with the few things that they could bring with them and often these were jewels. It is these ancestors from whence HRH Michael was born in 1942 during the years that Hitler was bombing London. HRH is named for Grand Duke Michael of Russia who was brother of the Tzar and is closely related to Queen Elizabeth II.