By Isle of Wight Observer
Russian royalty Her Highness Princess Olga Andreevna Romanov, great-niece of Tsar Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia came to East Cowes on Sunday (Oct 13) to lay flowers at the Romanov monument. The princess who lives in Kent, is president of the Romanov Family Association and was accompanied by Mr and Mrs Kulikovsky-Romanov who travelled from Moscow for the moving ceremony.
Members of the community turned out in the pouring rain to welcome them at the seven-and-a-half tonne granite monument unveiled in July last year in Jubilee Park in the town. It marks the 100th anniversary of the deaths of the Russian royal family, killed by Bolsheviks in July 1918. The royal family had visited the Isle of Wight in 1909 and stayed at Barton Manor.
East Cowes councillor Karl Love said: “The event was a great success and it was an honour to host the royal party and bring to life our town and the Island’s rich cultural history. David Hill planned the event after receiving a request from the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Romanov Society. The event will be reported in the Russian Media which helps to raise the profile of our island and town as a tourist destination.”
The Grand Duchess Elizabeth Romanov was a grand daughter of Queen Victoria who married the Grand Duke Sergey Alexandrovich Romanov, Nicholas II’s uncle. The society dedicated to her memory funded the monument in East Cowes.
Deputy Mayor Michael Paler and Kenneth Beken presented pictures to the Princess and Mr and Mrs Kulikovsky-Romanov. The pictures were of East Cowes and the Imperial Russian yacht, the Standard, moored in the bay of East Cowes in 1909 during the visit of the imperial family to the Island.
The monument has proved popular since its unveiling, Cllr. Love said : “It has already inspired successive Royals to visit our town which raises the profile of East Cowes.”
