Russian heirs to aristocratic titles living in Europe and Africa gathered at the Livadia Palace, taking advantage of the invitation of the Crimean government and the Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, Head of the Russian Imperial House. A report of this fashionable reception was published by the Ukrainian Internet portal “Segodnya.ua.
Celebrating the 400th Anniversary of the House of Romanov, in what was once the royal summer residence, the guests were treated to a royal gala reception. Sparkling with diamonds and smiles, aristocrats from Austria and Hungary, Serbia, Albania, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Egypt and Sudan grandly walked along the red carpet lined with a guard of honor composed of Ukrainian sailors. The only one who lingered was the King of Egypt and Sudan – Fuad II, who rushed into the crowd of onlookers, smiling confusedly into the lenses of cameras. To avoid such an incident, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, with the heir Georgy Mikhailovich, were accompanied arm-in-arm by Viktor Plakida, the Envoy of the President of Ukraine in Crimea.
A children’s ensemble danced “The Nutcracker” for the guests, and the Orchestra of the 36th Independent Brigade of Coastal Defense of the Ukrainian Navy amused them with an “orchestral defile”. When it sounded “God Save the Tsar” and the number “400” flared up with fireworks on the roof of the palace, the titled guests were invited into the music room for evening cocktails, where historical records of the dynasty were presented to them.
A great table was laid in the gala White Hall, where eyes went dizzy looking at all the original dishes. “Everything was cooked according to pre-revolution recipes,” one of the waiters told us. “We are treating the guests with quails stuffed with veal, patties with mushrooms, meat and cabbage, and a variety of ingenious Russian drinks. Since this event is taking place in the Crimea, we'll serve a lamb rack.”
At the table, the crown prince, who was trying not to miss a single patriotic toast, and Chairman of the Supreme Council of Crimea, Vladimir Konstantinov, were sitting next to “Empress” Maria on either side. The Grand Duchess told us that she was greatly pleased to have gathered such dear guests under the roof of the royal palace and to be celebrating the 400th anniversary of her dynasty. She was satisfied with the reception, noting that “rigid keeping of protocol can impoverish the color of an event,” and kept saying with a smile: “Everyone is so beautiful!”
Incidentally, the social life of the Grand Duchess is quite bubbling even without Crimea: “Her visits are planned for the next three years,” said Prince Vadim Lopukhin. “She considered it her duty not to miss this event, and to pay tribute to the Crimea and Ukraine, with which we lived as one state.”
Toward the end of the evening, the aristocrats were served dessert to the music of Wagner: fruit consommé, marmalade and wine from Crimean cellars. Visiting princesses studied the unusual vegetation of the Italian patio and had their pictures taken, which incredibly pleased the heir Georgy Mikhailovich, a titled bachelor.
Prince Lopukhin disclosed a secret – that the Empress received vegetables from President Yanukovych’s garden as a present. “We have been eating delicious onions and tomatoes from the head of state for the second day already,” said Vadim Olegovich. “We are very grateful to Viktor Yanukovych, as there are no real fruits and vegetables in Europe.” According to the prince, Maria Vladimirovna gladly eats ‘salo’ and ‘vareniki’ in Crimea: “By the way, ‘borscht’ and ‘pelmeni’ are often served at her Spanish home.”
Based on materials from the portal “Segodnya.ua”
