Maria II, Empress of Russia

**Maria II, Empress of Russia** (born *Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia* on 23 December 1953) is the current reigning Empress of Russia. She is the only child of **Emperor Vladimir of Russia** and **Princess Leonida of Bagration-Mukhrani**.

## Life

She was born with little claim to the throne, as the Russian Imperial Family practiced Semi-Salic primogeniture - allowing female succession only at the extinction of all male descendants in the male line. As such, for the first fifteen years of her life, her father's heir presumptive as **Prince Roman Petrovich of Russia**, a great-grandson of **Emperor Nicholas I of Russia**.

On 21 April 1969, Emperor Vladimir courted controversy when he announced changes to Russian primogeniture law, allowing Maria to succeed him as the first Empress regnant since **Catherine the Great**.

Maria succeeded her father on 21 April 1992 as Maria II.

## Marriage and Issue

On 4 May 1976, Maria's engagement to **Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia** was announced. The couple were married on 22 September 1976 in Saint Petersburg to great fanfare. Upon the marriage, Franz Wilhelm adopted the name Michael Pavlovich and received the title of Grand Duke. The couple have two sons, **George** and **Nicholas**.

The couple have privately lived separately since 1985, but continue to perform their duties together and are said to have a good working relationship.

## Residences

Winter Palace
 Saint Petersburg, Russia
 Main Residence
 (March-May; September-November)Alexander Palace
 Tsarkoye Selo, Russia
 Winter Residence
 (December-February)Livadia Palace
 Livadia, Crimea
 Summer Residence
 (June-August)
## Sartorial Information

### Tiara Collection

As Empress, Maria has access to the entirety of the Russian Tiara Collection. Below are the tiaras she personally owns.

Cartier Lusitania Tiara (1969)
A 16th birthday present from her parentsDiamond Lovers Knot Tiara (1976)
A wedding gift from her parents-in-law, Prince Karl Franz and Princess HenrietteEmerald Bandeau (1976)
A wedding gift from her parents

## Titles and Honours

* **1953-1969**        Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia
* **1969-1992**        Maria, Tsarevna of Russia
* **1992-present**   Maria II, Empress of Russia

### National Honours

 Order of St. Andrew (1980)

 Order of St. Alexander Nevsky (1992)

 Order of the White Eagle (1971)

 Order of St. Anna (1976)

 Order of St. Stanislaus(1992)

## Ancestry

Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Princess Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Duke Alfred of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia
Princess Marie of Hesse (x2)
Grand Duke Frederick Francis II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Princess Augusta of Reuss
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
 Princess Leonida of Bagration-Mukhrani
Helena Nowina Zlotnicka
Maria Dmitrievna Golovatcheva
Sigismund Nowina Zlotnicki
Princess Maria Elisabarowna of Ksani
Princess Katharina of Argutinsky-Dolgorukov
Dimitri Zakharovitch Golovachev
Leonida Igorevna von Hessen
Dymitr Nowina Zlotnicki
Celestyna Sas Trzeciak
Prince Elisabar of Ksani
Princess Kethevan of Ksani

## Lines of Succession

House of Romanov
preceded by
**Vladimir**