A Royal Romance.

Manawatu Herald, 23 July 1904, Page 2

A Royal Romance.

Ther Russian Grand Duke Cyril, who bad so miraculous an escape from the battleship Petropavlbvak When it was blown up by a Russian v mine outside Port Arthur, is >the heto of a Royal love story. In 1898 he fell in love with his corftwfafc Princess Victoria, the daughter *'>f the Duchess of Saxe-Coburg, he being then sixteen years old and the Princess a few months younger. The attachment was viewed with disfavour by the relations on both sides, and a year later the Princess was married to the Grand Duke Ernest Louis of Hesse. It was an unfortunate match, for the bride and bridegroom were diametrically opposed in temperament and tastes, and their dislike was mutual. The marriage took place in 1894, and in 1901 it was dissolved on the ground of irreconcilable mutual antipathy. The only issue, of the union was the little Princess Elizabeth, who fell a victim to cholera last year. After the divorce, the Grand Duke Cyril renewed his suit, but the Czar intervened. Grave reasons, ligious and social, he said, forbade the marriage which the Grand Duke sought. The Czarina is a sister of the Grand Duke Emeatj, Princess Victoria’s former husband, and the Grand Duke .Cyril may one day succeed to the Russian throne. .... Moreover, the Russian Church prohibits the re-piarriage of been, divorced; The Grand* Duke declared*; that., he. wouldmarcy the princess even though he lost aM| Ilia rights , and 1 property, ;,bufc to jthia sacrifice she. firmly refuted to assent. Then came the death of her Htlle daughter, after which she went into retirement! and the Grand Dike obtained a position with the Russian fleet in. Japanese waters. -He; was on ’the Russian flagship at Fort Arthur wA e nthe war anddn the terrible-disaster in which the Petropavlosk was lost - he was seriously wounded. He was syht back to St. Petersburg, and on arrival there found that the Ofar had withdrawn his opposition to. his marriage with the Princess, m All that is now required to complete thy love story is the acquiescence of King fed ward to the marriage’, for thefPrincess'.lie his niece, and cannot his permission! w . . '■mi... ■ i i . .in ——My