Grand Duchess Kirill Children Romanov Imperial Russian Signed Presentation Frame

Very fine and rare signed Boissonnas Eggler photograph in original presentation frame with imperial Russian gold crown from Grand Duchess Kirill of Russia, born Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1876-1936). The photograph has been signed by her in Cyrillic, 'Victoria', whilst her daughters have signed their own names in English.

She was the third child and second daughter of Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. She was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria as well as of Tsar Alexander II of Russia.

Victoria was born a British princess, Victoria spent her early life in England and for three years in Malta, where her father was serving in the Royal Navy. In 1889 the family moved to Coburg, where Victoria's father became the reigning Duke in 1893. In her teens Victoria fell in love with her maternal first cousin Kirill Vladimirovich, Grand Duke of Russia, but they could not marry because the Orthodox Christian religion forbids marriage between first cousins. Instead, bowing to family pressure, Victoria married in 1894 a paternal first cousin, Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse, following the wishes of their shared grandmother, Queen Victoria. Their marriage was a failure. Victoria scandalized the royal families of Europe when she divorced her husband in 1901. The couple's only daughter died of typhoid fever in 1903. In addition, her mother had divorced her former husband, Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse, the brother of the Empress Alexandra, thus infuriating the Empress.

Victoria married Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich in 1905. They wed without the necessary approval of the Tsar. In retaliation, Nicholas II stripped Kirill of his offices and honours and Victoria and Kirill were initially banished from living in Russia. They had two daughters and settled in Paris before they were allowed to return in 1909. In 1910 they moved to Russia, where she was known as Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna. After the fall of the Russian monarchy in 1917, they escaped to Finland where she gave birth to her only son. In exile they lived for some years in Germany and from the late 1920s in Saint-Briac. In 1926, Kirill proclaimed himself emperor in exile and Victoria supported her husband's claims. Victoria died after suffering a stroke while visiting her daughter Maria in Amorbach.

The photograph is also signed by Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia (9 May 1909 - 8 September 1967), the second daughter of Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia and Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna. She married Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia.

The third signature is of Grand Duchess Maria Kirillovna of Russia, (2 February 1907 - 25 October 1951), the eldest daughter of Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia and Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna. She was born in Coburg when her parents were in exile because their marriage had not been approved by Tsar Nicholas II. She married Karl, Prince of Leiningen.

"Victoria" "Kira" "Maria"

Overall Size: 36 x 26.5 cm approx