ROMANOVSKY-KRASINSKY

Prince Vladimir, 1902-1974, son of Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich, 1879-1956, the Cousin of Nicholas II, and his wife Princess Matilda Kschessinska, 1872-1971, Prima Ballerina Assoluta of the Imperial Ballet, Mistress of Nicholas II when Tsesarevich) Autograph letter signed ‘Vova’, to his cousin Slava Astafiev (d. 1976),

      - in Russian with translation, saying "We are staying in London till the 2nd September, and since we are returning at the end of this month, we hope to see you .. As soon as you are up in London .. let me have your number .. We are staying with our great friends the Topodonosovs", 12 West Heath Road, Golders Green, N.W.11, 26th August [1935] In 1921, on her marriage, Matilda was given the title ‘Princess Krasinska’ by Kyrill. There was a family tradition that her Polish father descended from the noble Krasinskis. By Ukase of 1935, Kyrill added ‘Romanovsky’ to indicate a morganatic marriage, but like other of their relatives, Matilda and her son reverted to ‘Romanov’ after the war.