View source for Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia

{{Short description|Disputed head of the House of Romanov}}

{{family name hatnote|Vladimirovna|Romanova|lang=Eastern Slavic}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna
| image        = Мария Владимировна 2010 (cropped).jpg
| caption      = The Grand Duchess in 2010
| succession   = [[House of Romanov|Head of the House of Romanov]] (disputed)
| reign        = 21 April 1992 – ''present''
| reign-type   = Tenure
| predecessor  = [[Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich of Russia|Vladimir]]
| successor    = [[Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia|George]]
| suc-type     = Heir apparent
| spouse       = {{marriage|[[Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia]]<br />|4 September 1976|19 June 1985|end=divorced}}
| issue        = [[Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia|Grand Duke George of Russia]]
| full name    = Maria Vladimirovna Romanova
| house        = [[House of Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov|Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov]]
| father       = [[Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich of Russia]]
| mother       = [[Leonida Bagration of Mukhrani|Princess Leonida Bagrationi of Mukhrani]]
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1953|12|23|df=y}}
| birth_place  = [[Madrid]], [[Francoist Spain]]
| religion     = [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodox]]
}}
{{Russian Imperial Family|Maria}}
'''Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia''' ({{langx|ru|Мария Владимировна Романова|Mariya Vladimirovna Romanova}}; born 23 December 1953) has been a claimant to the headship of the [[House of Romanov]], the Imperial Family of Russia (who reigned as [[Emperor of all the Russias|Emperors and Autocrats]] of [[Russian Empire|all the Russias]] from 1613 to 1917) since 1992. She is a great-great-granddaughter in the male line of Emperor [[Alexander II of Russia]]. Although she has used [[List of Grand Duchesses of Russia|Grand Duchess of Russia]] as her [[pretender|title of pretence]] with the style [[Imperial Highness]] throughout her life, her right to do so is disputed.<ref name=Massie269>Massie, p 269</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=John-Paul|last=Flintoff|title=Tsar Struck|url=http://www.flintoff.org/tsar-struck|publisher=Flintoff.org|date=20 September 2003|access-date=10 July 2012}}</ref> Since her father's death on April 21, 1992, some of her monarchist supporters have referred to her as ''Maria I'', titular "Empress of Russia", a title she does not claim herself.

==Early life==
===Birth===
Maria Vladimirovna was born in [[Madrid]], the only child of [[Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich of Russia]], head of the Imperial Family of Russia and titular Emperor of Russia,<ref>{{cite news|title=Empress Maria in Vladivostok |url=http://vladivostoktimes.ru/show.php?id=11990 |publisher=Vladivostok Times |date=11 July 2007 |access-date=11 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190442/http://vladivostoktimes.ru/show.php?id=11990 |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref> and [[Leonida Bagration of Mukhrani|Princess Leonida]] [[House of Mukhrani|Bagration-Mukhrani]] of [[Georgians|Georgian]], [[Polish people|Polish]], [[Germans|German]] and [[Swedes|Swedish]] descent.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dumin |first=Stanislav |date=1993 |title= Восходящая родословная вдовствующей Великой княгини Леониды Георгиевны // Летопись Историко-родословного общества в Москве. 1993. Вып. 1. С. 40-41. |trans-title=The Ascending Lineage of the Dowager Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna // Chronicle of the Historical and Genealogical Society in Moscow. 1993. Issue 1. pp. 40-41. |language=RU |location=Moscow |publisher=Historical and Genealogical Society in Moscow}}</ref> Her paternal grandparents were [[Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia]] and Grand Duchess Victoria Fyodorovna (''née'' [[Princess Victoria Melita of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha]]) through whom she is a great-great-granddaughter of [[Queen Victoria]]. Her godfather was [[Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich of Russia|Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich]] of Russia, for whom [[Prince Nicholas of Romania]] stood in at the christening ceremony, and her godmother was [[Giovanna of Italy|Queen Ioanna of Bulgaria]].<ref name=mundy>{{cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/662927.Carlos_Mundy/blog|title=Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and her justified claim to the Imperial throne of Russia|date=18 July 2017|access-date=20 November 2019|website=goodreads.com}}</ref>

===Education===
Maria was educated at [[Runnymede College]]<ref name=mundy/> in Madrid and Paris before studying Russian history and literature at the [[University of Oxford]].<ref name=eilers>Eilers, Marlene. ''Queen Victoria's Descendants''. 2nd ed. Rosvall Royal Books: Falkoping, Sweden, 1997. pp. 79-84, 178. {{ISBN|91-6305964-9}}</ref><ref name=Massie263>Massie, p 263</ref>

Maria Vladimirovna lives in Madrid. She is fluent in Russian, English, French, and Spanish, and also speaks some German, Italian, and [[Arabic language|Arabic]].<ref name=MariaI/>

On 23 December 1969, upon reaching her dynastic majority, Maria swore an oath of loyalty to her father, to Russia, and to uphold the Fundamental Laws of Russia which governed succession to the [[abolished monarchy|defunct throne]]. At the same time, her father issued a controversial decree recognising her as [[heir presumptive|heiress presumptive]] and declaring that, in the event he predeceased other [[Non-dynastic|dynastic]] Romanov males, then Maria would become the "[[Curator|Curatrix]] of the Imperial Throne"<ref name=MariaI>{{cite web|url=http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/imperialhouse/chipdom/maria.html |title=Maria I Wladimirovna |access-date=11 August 2008 |publisher=Imperialhouse.ru |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004200455/http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/imperialhouse/chipdom/maria.html |archive-date=4 October 2008 }}</ref> until the death of the last male dynast. This has been viewed as an attempt by her father to ensure the succession remained in his branch of the imperial family,<ref name=Massie263/> while the heads of the other branches of the imperial family, the Princes [[Prince Vsevolod Ivanovich of Russia|Vsevolod Ioannovich]] of the [[Branches of the Russian Imperial Family#Konstantinovichi|Konstantinovichi]], [[Prince Roman Petrovich of Russia|Roman Petrovich]] of the [[Branches of the Russian Imperial Family#Nikolaevichi|Nikolaevichi]] and [[Prince Andrei Alexandrovich of Russia|Prince Andrei Alexandrovich]] of the [[Branches of the Russian Imperial Family#Mihailovichi|Mihailovichi]] declared that her father's actions were illegal.<ref name=Massie269/> As it happened, Vladimir Kirillovich, who died in 1992, outlived all the other male Romanov dynasts, and his daughter had no occasion to assume curatorship.

==Marriage==
In [[Dinard]] on 4 September 1976 (civil) and at the Russian Orthodox Chapel in [[Madrid]] on 22 September 1976 (religious), Maria married [[Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia]],<ref name="ghda">''Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser'' XIV. "Haus Preußen". C.A. Starke Verlag, 1991, pp. 123, 153. {{ISBN|3-7980-0700-4}}.</ref> her third cousin once removed. He is a [[House of Hohenzollern|Hohenzollern]] great-grandson of Germany's last emperor [[Wilhelm II]] and a great-great-great-grandchild of [[Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom]]. Maria's aunt [[Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia]], her father's late sister, had been married to [[Louis Ferdinand, Prince of Prussia]], since 1938, head of the House of Hohenzollern since 1951. 

Franz Wilhelm converted to the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox faith]] prior to the wedding, taking the name ''Michael Pavlovich'' and receiving the title of a Grand Duke of Russia from Maria's father.<ref>{{cite book |title=Royalty who wait: the 21 heads of formerly regnant houses of Europe |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-7864-0901-3|author=Olga S. Opfell|publisher=McFarland & Co., Inc Publishers |location=Jefferson, NC|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9UFveIUgktIC&q=kaiser+wilhelm+ii+grandson+karl+franz+henriette&pg=PA79|page=79}}</ref><ref>Massie, pp. 263-264.</ref> The couple separated in 1982, a year after the birth of their only child, [[Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia|George Mikhailovich]], who had been granted the title Grand Duke of Russia at birth by his grandfather Vladimir. Following the divorce on 19 June 1985, Franz Wilhelm reverted to his Prussian name and style.<ref name=eilers/>

==Succession claims==
{{infobox hrhstyles
| royal name=Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna
| dipstyle=[[Her Imperial Highness]]
| offstyle=Your Imperial Highness
| image=[[File:Coat of arms of the Russian Empire.svg|75px]]}}

[[File:Imperial Monogram of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia v2.svg|thumb|130px|Monogram of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna]]

Maria Vladimirovna is a patrilineal descendant of [[Alexander II of Russia]]. The original [[House of Romanov]] had died out with Empress [[Elizabeth of Russia]] in 1762 and was continued by [[Peter III of Russia]], who was born a Duke of [[Holstein-Gottorp]], a branch of the [[House of Oldenburg]], from which the current reigning monarchs of Norway and Great Britain, as well as the former of Greece, also descend in the male line. The oldest known ancestor of this extensive family is [[Elimar I, Count of Oldenburg]], first mentioned in 1091.

When Vladimir Kirillovich died on 21 April 1992, his daughter Maria claimed to succeed him as head of the Russian Imperial Family on the grounds that she was the only child of the last male dynast of the Imperial house according to the Romanovs' [[Pauline Laws|Pauline laws]].<ref name="petit">de Badts de Cugnac, Chantal. Coutant de Saisseval, Guy. ''Le Petit Gotha''. Nouvelle Imprimerie Laballery, Paris 2002, pp. 780-782, 798-799, 808-809 (French) {{ISBN|2-9507974-3-1}}</ref> Although the charter of the [[Romanov Family Association]] (RFA), which represents other descendants of the Romanov family, asserts the premise that Russia's form of government should be determined democratically and that therefore the Association and its members undertake to adopt no position on any claims to the Imperial throne,<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Romanov Family Association|url=http://www.romanovfamily.org/family.html|website=Romanovfamily.org|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref> its two most recent presidents have personally opposed Maria's claims: [[Nicholas Romanov, Prince of Russia]], who maintained his own claims to dynastic status and to headship of the Romanov family,<ref name="massie">[[Robert Massie]]. The Romanovs The Final Chapter. Jonathan Cape, 1965, pp. 274, 278. {{ISBN|0-224-04192-4}}</ref> stated, "Strictly applying the Pauline Laws as amended in 1911 to all marriages of Equal Rank, the situation is very clear. At the present time, not one of the Emperors or Grand Dukes of Russia has left living descendants with unchallengeable rights to the Throne of Russia,"<ref>{{Cite web|title = Succession of the Imperial House of Russia|url = http://www.romanovfamily.org/succession.html|website =Romanovfamily.org|access-date = 2015-12-02}}</ref> and his younger brother, [[Prince Dimitri Romanov]], said of Maria's assumption of titles, including "''de jure'' Empress of all the Russias", "It seems that there are no limits to this charade".<ref>{{Cite web|title = The Romanov Fund For Russia|url = http://www.romanovfamily.org/press.html|website =Romanovfamily.org|access-date = 2015-12-02}}</ref>  The supporters of Maria Vladimirovna point to the fact that neither Nicholas nor his brother Dimitri had any dynastic claims due to the [[morganatic marriage]] of their parents.<ref>{{cite web|title = Almanach de Gotha|date=1938|page=107|url = http://www.russianlegitimist.org/almanach-de-gotha/|website=Russianlegitimist.org|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref> Maria's parents' marriage of equal rank is, of course, questioned by her cousins, who claim that her mother's family, the [[Bagrationi dynasty]], became Russian subjects after they lost their thrones in the [[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Kartli|Kartli]]-[[Kingdom of Kakheti|Kakheti]] and [[Kingdom of Imereti|Imereti]] around 1800 and was therefore not a ruling dynasty.

By the Romanov [[House law]], the Pauline Laws, she is however the rightful heir to the throne if the Bagrationi are seen as royal equals.<ref name="petit"/><ref name=mundy/> The Pauline Laws emphasize [[Primogeniture|male succession before female succession]]. As an example, if [[Tsarevich Alexei Romanov]] had not been [[Execution of the Romanov family|murdered in 1918]], and died without issue (i.e., without children), his sisters, [[Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia|Olga]], [[Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russia|Tatiana]], [[Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia|Maria]], and [[Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia|Anastasia]] wouldn't become [[Emperor of Russia|Empresses]] before male Romanov relatives. 
[[Alexander III of Russia|Alexander III]] had four sons: [[Nicholas II of Russia]] whose only male son died before he could produce heirs, [[Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich of Russia]], who died shortly before he was 11 months old, [[Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia]], who died with no issue, and [[Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia]] whose only son, [[George Mikhailovich, Count Brasov]] died at age 20, childless.

From there, the line of succession looks to Alexander III's father, [[Alexander II of Russia|Alexander II]]. His sons, [[Nicholas Alexandrovich, Tsesarevich of Russia]], and [[Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia]] both died without issue. Excluding the future Alexander III, the third boy [[Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia]] – born after the childless Tsarevich and Alexander III, whose descendants couldn't claim leadership for many reasons – had four sons. The eldest died in infancy and the second eldest, [[Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia]], had one son, [[Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich of Russia]]. His only child is Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, making her the legal heir to the Russian throne.

Following the discovery of the remains of Emperor [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]] and most of his immediate family in 1991, Maria Vladimirovna wrote to President [[Boris Yeltsin]] regarding the burial of the remains, saying of her Romanov cousins, whom she does not recognise as members of the Imperial House (including the grandchildren of Nicholas II's sister [[Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia|Grand Duchess Xenia]]), that they "do not have the slightest right to speak their mind and wishes on this question. They can only go and pray at the grave, as can any other Russian, who so wishes".<ref>Massie, p. 270.</ref> At the behest of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]], Maria did not recognise the authenticity of the remains and declined to attend the reburial ceremony in 1998, however according to Victor Aksyuchits, ex-advisor of [[Boris Nemtsov]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Viktor Aksyuchits interview|url=http://www.mk.ru/politics/2021/10/14/mozhet-slozhitsya-tak-chto-rossiyu-spaset-tolko-utverzhdenie-putina-monarkhom.html|website=MK RU|date=14 October 2021 }}</ref> the exact reason behind Maria's absence from the state burial for Nicholas II and his family in 1998 was motivated by the [[Russian government]]'s refusal to recognize her status as official Head of the Romanov House, after asking via a letter prior the funeral ceremony.<ref name="one">{{cite web|url=http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/dynastynews/news/vin/360.html |title=Interview with Maria Vladimirovna |date=12 December 2005 |access-date=11 August 2008 |publisher=Imperialhouse.ru |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206030948/http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/dynastynews/news/vin/360.html |archive-date=6 February 2008 }}</ref> She has also said, regarding some of her Romanov cousins, that "My feeling about them is that now that something important is happening in Russia, they suddenly have awakened and said, 'Ah ha! There might be something to gain out of this.{{'"}}<ref>Massie, p. 274.</ref>

When questioned about the ongoing rift among Romanov descendants, Maria said:

{{blockquote|"Attempts to disparage my rights have originated with people who, firstly, do not belong to the Imperial Family, and, secondly, either do not themselves know the relevant laws or think that others do not know these laws. In either case, there is unscrupulousness at work. The only thing that causes me regret is that some of our relatives waste their time and energy on little intrigues instead of striving to be of some use to their country. I have never quarreled with anyone about these matters and I remain open to a discussion and cooperation with all, including, of course, my relatives. But there can be no foundation for cooperation without respect for our dynastic laws, fulfilling these laws, and following our family traditions."<ref name="one"/>}}

==Role in Russia and activities==
{{Very long section|date=June 2025}}
Maria hopes for the restoration of the monarchy someday and is "ready to respond to a call from the people".<ref name=MariaI/>

In a 2018 interview, she defined her own understanding of her role as follows:<ref>Interview on their website from April 14, 2018: ''[https://imperialhouse.ru/en/allnews-en/news/grand-duchess-maria-of-russia-no-one-has-the-right-to-sit-in-judgment-of-russia.html]''</ref>

{{blockquote|The Imperial House of Russia considers it its main goal to help preserve the historical and cultural continuity of our house and country, and to do all we can to strengthen the ethnic, religious, and civil peace and harmony of Russia. As a matter of principle, we do not engage in any form of politics whatsoever. We believe that the idea of a legitimate, hereditary monarchy, which preserves an unbroken, living connection with the centuries-long history of Russia and which conceives of society as a unified family, still has resonance today and remains a viable choice for our country and peoples. But we are hardly unaware that, at the present time and for the foreseeable future, the conditions are not right in Russia for a restoration of the monarchy. For now, the spheres of our activities are limited to promoting philanthropy; participating in social peace-making processes; reviving and maintaining traditions and preserving our country’s historical, cultural, and natural heritage; strengthening the spiritual and moral foundations of our nation; helping to foster patriotism; and advancing a positive image of Russia in the wider world.}}

In 2002, Maria became frustrated with the internal strife within the Russian monarchist movement. When representatives of the ''Union of Descendants of Noble Families'', one of two rival nobility associations (the other, older one being the ''Assembly of the Russian Nobility'') were discovered to be distributing chivalric titles and awards of the [[Order of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker]], without her approval, she published a relatively strongly worded disclaimer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imperialhouse.ru/rus/allnews/news/2002/86.html |title=Declaration by Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna |date=11 December 2002 |access-date=11 August 2008 |publisher=Imperialhouse.ru }}</ref>

In 2003, [[Kirill I of Moscow|Kirill I Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia]] stated in a congratulatory message on Maria Vladimirovna's 55th birthday, "you are the embodiment of a Russian Grand Duchess: noble, wise, compassionate, and consumed with a genuine love for Russia. Though you may reside far from Russia, you continue to take an active part in its life, rejoicing when there are triumphs and empathizing when there are trials. It is deeply gratifying to know that, even in these new historical circumstances, you are making a significant contribution to the building of Russia's global standing on the basis of spiritual and moral values, and the centuries-old traditions of the Russian people. The Russian Orthodox Church remains the preserver of the historical memory of the Russian people, and supports, as it has traditionally, the warmest possible relations with the Russian Imperial House."<ref>{{cite web |last1=(Gundyayev) |first1=Kirill |title=Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia |url=http://www.imperialhouse.ru/images/oldsite/image/photo-gallery/history_din/3patr_Kiril.jpg |website=imperialhouse.ru |access-date=26 October 2018}}</ref>

She did not claim restitution of confiscated assets, but she made several requests to rehabilitate the Romanovs through the courts, which were repeatedly rejected until the Tsar's family was finally rehabilitated by the Supreme Court's decision on October 1, 2008.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/02/world/europe/02czar.html Court Rehabilitates Status of a Czar and His Family], in New York Times, Oct. 1, 2008</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1992/07/20/the-rehabilitation-of-czar-nicholas-ii/7422f529-ed0c-4f38-8668-308ad9f60f4b/ The rehabilitation of Czar Nicholas II], www.washingtonpost.com, July 20, 1992</ref> In May 2010, Maria and other members of the Romanov dynasty met with members of the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] at [[Topkapı Palace]], which was the first official meeting between these two former ruling (and rival) families.<ref>Kai Strittmatter:[https://www.sueddeutsche.de/leben/romanows-und-osmanen-gipfel-der-erbfeinde-1.145214 ''Gipfel der Erbfeinde''] (German article: ''Summit of hereditary enemies''), in: [[Süddeutsche Zeitung]], 17 May 2010</ref>

In March 2013, the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, made a statement which seems to have drawn further supporters. In an interview, he was asked if any of the Romanovs had a legitimate claim to the throne and responded: "Well, to the second part of your question: are the claims, as you say, of the descendants of the Romanovs to the Russian throne legitimate? I would like to say right away that there are no claims. Today, none of the descendants of the Romanovs make claims the Russian throne. But in the person of the Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and her son George, the succession of the Romanovs is preserved - not to the Russian imperial throne, but simply historically." (Сегодня никто из лиц, принадлежащих к потомкам Романовых, не претендует на Российский престол. Но в лице Великой княгини Марии Владимировны и ее сына Георгия сохраняется преемственность Романовых — уже не на Российском императорском престоле, а просто в истории).<ref name="patr_201303">{{cite web|url=http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/2836965.html|access-date=16 July 2013|script-title=ru:"Слово пастыря". Выпуск от 9 марта 2013 года|language=ru|website=Patriarchia.ru}}</ref> Further, the Patriarch noted: "And I must thank this family and many other Romanovs with gratitude for their today's contribution to the life of our Fatherland. Maria Vladimirovna supports a lot of good initiatives, she visits Russia, she meets people, she elevates the most ordinary people who have distinguished themselves to a nobility. I remember well how on the Smolensk land an old peasant woman was elevated to the dignity of nobility, who did so much for those who were by her side during the difficult years of the war and in the post-war period. Therefore, the cultural contribution of this family continues to be very noticeable in the life of our society. " <ref name="patr_201303"/>

On May 14, 2013, at a ceremony at the Romanov Museum in [[Kitay-gorod]], Maria awarded the [[Order of Saint Anna]] (1st Degree) to [[San Francisco]] Archbishop Kyril of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia]], the first award of this historic Romanov [[dynastic order]] since the October Revolution of 1917.<ref>[https://www.synod.com/synod/eng2013/20130601_print_enarchbpkyrillaward.html ''Archbishop Kyrill is Awarded the Imperial Order of St Anne, 1st Degree''.] Website of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia]], 1st June 2013.</ref> In December 2013, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna visited the United States at the request of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, which received her with full honours and recognition as head of the Russian Imperial House.<ref>{{cite web|title=Celebrations of the Feast Day of the Kursk-Root Icon|url=http://www.synod.com/synod/eng2013/20131214_print_ensynodfeastday.html|publisher=Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia|access-date=3 March 2014}}</ref> On July 20, 2014, at a ceremony in the Church in the Izmailovo district of Moscow, Maria awarded Russian Vice-Admiral [[Oleg Belaventsev]] the Order of Saint Anna (1st Degree), Prosecutor General of the [[Autonomous Republic of Crimea]], [[Natalia Poklonskaya]], the ''Imperial Ladies' Order of Saint Anastasia'' (founded by herself in 2010), and the former cosmonaut [[Alexei Leonov]] the [[Order of Saint Stanislaus]] (1st degree), dynastic house orders of the Romanovs.<ref>[http://politikus.ru/v-rossii/25169-polnomochnyy-predstavitel-prezidenta-rf-v-krymskom-fo-oe-belavencev-i-prokuror-kryma-nv-poklonskaya-soprichisleny-k-imperatorskim-ordenam.html Полномочный представитель Президента РФ в Крымском ФО О.Е. Белавенцев и прокурор Крыма Н.В. Поклонская сопричислены к императорским орденам.] politikus.ru. 24 July 2014</ref><ref>[https://tv-soyuz.ru/news/v-pokrovskom-sobore-moskvy-sostoyalos-nagrazhdenie-otlichivshihsya-v-prisoedinenii-kryma-k-rossii В Покровском соборе Москвы состоялось награждение отличившихся в присоединении Крыма к России]. tv-soyuz.ru. 24 July 2014</ref>

On 17 July 2018 she participated in the liturgical commemoration of the centenary of the assassinations of Saints Nicholas II, [[Alexandra Feodorovna (Alix of Hesse)|Empress Alexandra Feodorovna]] and their children conducted in [[Yekaterinburg]] by Patriarch Kirill I.<ref name=tass>[[Tass]]. 17 July 2018. [http://tass.com/society/1013579 Patriarch Kirill I Leads Procession Commemorating Slain Czarist Family]. Retrieved 17 July 2018.</ref> On July 28, 2014, at the invitation of the mayor of [[Irkutsk]], Viktor Kondrashov, Maria attended a commemorative event there for the 100th anniversary of Russia's entry into the [[First World War]] and, among other things, visited [[Irkutsk State University]], where she presented a medal "In Commemoration of the 400th Anniversary of the House of Romanov".<ref>[https://isu.ru/ru/news/newsitem.html?action=show&id=1547 Великая Княгиня Мария Владимировна Романова.] website of Irkutsk State University, 1 August 2014.</ref> She visited [[Malta]] in June 2017, with former Russian Prime Minister [[Sergei Stepashin]] organizing the trip; Accompanied by the Russian ambassador, she met the Maltese President [[Marie Louise Coleiro Preca]].<ref>[https://imperialhouse.ru/en/allnews-en/news/the-director-of-the-chancellery-of-the-head-of-the-imperial-house-of-russia-alexander-nikolaevich-zakatov-met-with-the-chairman-of-the-imperial-orthodox-palestine-society-sergei-vadimovich-stepashin.html Notice on their website imperialhouse.ru dated July 28, 2017]</ref> She knows Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] from numerous encounters.<ref>[https://tsarnicholas.org/2022/03/05/the-unholy-alliance-of-maria-and-vlad/ Image of Maria Vladimirovna, meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin] during her visit to Moscow in September 2012</ref> He respects the House of Romanov, but has no interest in restoring the monarchy.<ref>''[https://www.memri.org/reports/february-revolution-centenary-calls-restoration-russian-monarchy On February Revolution Centenary, Calls For The Restoration Of The Russian Monarchy]'', on: www.memri.org, 23 March 2017</ref> Other politicians, however, have spoken out in favor of this, including [[Vladimir Zhirinovsky]], [[Sergey Aksyonov]],<ref>[https://archive.kyivpost.com/eastern-europe/unian-crimeas-de-facto-head-aksyonov-calls-establish-monarchy-russia.html] kyivpost.com, 15 March 2017</ref> [[Natalia Poklonskaya]] and [[Aleksandr Dugin]]. [[Nikolai Patrushev]] is at least considered a sympathizer, the oligarch [[Konstantin Malofeev]] is considered a supporter of the monarchist movement; he founded and finances the ''Double-Headed Eagle Society'' and was a best man at the wedding of Maria's son.<ref>[https://diemaechtigstenfamilienderwelt.ch/2024/02/16/die-patruschew-familie-und-russlands-monarchisten/ Die Patruschew Familie und Russlands Monarchisten] (German article: ''The Patrushev family and Russia's monarchists'', 16 Febr 2024</ref><ref>[https://tsarnicholas.org/ tsarnicholas.org ], the ''Double-Headed Eagle Society's'' website tsarnicholas.org</ref>

In January 2021, Grand Duchess Maria announced the [[Morganatic marriage|morganatic]] engagement of her son [[Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia]] to [[Rebecca Virginia Bettarini]] from Italy. Bettarini converted to Russian Orthodoxy and took the name Victoria Romanovna. Grand Duchess Maria granted permission for the couple to marry. She decreed that Bettarini will have the title Princess, with the predicate "Her Serene Highness" and the right to use the surname Romanov.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Scarsi|first=Alice|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1387143/royal-wedding-2021-grand-duke-george-russia-Victoria-Romanovna-Bettarini-royal-news/amp|title = Royal Wedding 2021: Russian Grand Duke to celebrate imperial nuptials THIS year|work=Express.co.uk|date=21 January 2021}}</ref> The [[Wedding of Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia and Rebecca Virginia Bettarini|Imperial Wedding]] took place on 1 October 2021 at [[Saint Isaac's Cathedral]] in [[Saint Petersburg]]. The [[Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] assisted with obtaining [[travel visa]]s for guests and the [[Russian Ministry of Culture]] assisted in obtaining locations for the wedding ceremony and festivities.<ref>[https://www.fontanka.ru/2021/09/29/70163792/ "Великий князь Романов венчается в Исаакиевском соборе. Что ждет Петербург (фото)". fontanka.ru - новости Санкт-Петербурга] (in Russian). 2021-09-29</ref> A delegation of the [[Russian Guards]] formed a line. The reception was catered by [[Yevgeny Prigozhin]].<ref>[https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/10/01/russia-hosts-first-royal-wedding-in-a-century-in-former-imperial-capital-a75189 Russia Hosts First Royal Wedding in a Century in Former Imperial Capital], in: [[The Moscow Times]], Oct. 2, 2021</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Oliphant |first1=Roland |last2=Pavlova |first2=Uliana |date=2021-09-30 |title=Russia hosts first royal wedding in more than a century in lavish two-day ceremony |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2021/09/30/russia-host-first-royal-wedding-century-lavish-two-day-ceremony/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

Maria has in particular come to terms with the new Russian elite around President Vladimir Putin and not only awards the historical dynastic orders of the House of Romanov,<ref>The historic [[dynastic order]]s of the Romanovs are: The [[Order of St. Andrew]], [[Order of Saint Catherine]], [[Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky]], [[Order of St. George]], [[Order of Saint Vladimir]], [[Order of Saint Anna]], [[Order of Saint Stanislaus]], [[Insignia of Saint Olga]], during the [[Partitions of Poland]] in the 19th century the [[Order of the White Eagle (Poland)|Order of the White Eagle]], and, after the Russian Revolution, the [[Order of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker]] (founded in exile in 1929), [[Order of Saint Michael the Archangel]] (founded in exile in 1988), and the [[Order of Saint Anastasia]] (founded by Grand Duchess Maria herself in 2010 as the first women's order).</ref> but also partly newly created orders such as the [[Order of Saint Michael the Archangel]] (founded by her father in 1988) or the Ladies' [[Order of Saint Anastasia]] (founded by herself in 2010), to personalities close to the House of Romanov and the Russian Orthodox Church, including [[Silovik]]s and [[Russian oligarchs]]. She even goes so far as to elevate such people to the nobility, i. e. persons who usually have no biographical or cultural connection to the traditional [[Russian nobility]], but are often historically connected to the [[CPSU]] or the [[KGB]] and mostly very influential today. However, the lowest tier of the Russian nobility into which these people are usually admitted, traditionally does not bear noble titles, but only coats of arms. In the Tsarist Empire, similar to the United Kingdom,<ref>Such as, for instance, the [[Order of the British Empire]] which makes the recipient either a [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom#Modern honours|knight]] if male or [[dame (title)|dame]] if female.</ref> the award of certain orders entailed admission into the personal (often even hereditary) nobility: the Grand Cross of all orders and the [[Order of Saint Vladimir]] and the [[Order of St. George]] of all classes (as well as previously also the promotion to higher military ranks). In 2007, Maria is said to have ennobled the former head of the Russian domestic secret service [[Federal Security Service]] (FSB), [[Nikolai Patrushev]], who is considered one of Putin's closest confidants (and one of his possible successor candidates).<ref>German article: [https://diemaechtigstenfamilienderwelt.ch/2024/02/16/die-patruschew-familie-und-russlands-monarchisten/ Die Patruschew Familie und Russlands Monarchisten] (The Patrushev family and Russia's monarchists), 16 February 2024; Russian-language sources: [https://www.svoboda.org/a/27121156.html Хотят ли русские царя?], on svoboda.org; [https://versia.ru/rossijskaya-yelita-oderzhima-ideej-restavracii-monarxii Тронулись! Источник: https://versia.ru/rossijskaya-yelita-oderzhima-ideej-restavracii-monarxii ] on versia.ru; [https://web.archive.org/web/20200205030349/http://geroldia.ru/?lang=rus&id=20 geroldia.ru LIST OF THE HEROLDY E.I.V. APPROVED PERSONS IN HEREDITARY NOBILITY AND INCLUDED INTO THE ALL-RUSSIAN NOBILITY GENEALOGY BOOK IN 2005]</ref> Patrushev himself described the FSB employees in an interview as “our new nobility” because of their sense of dedicated service.<ref>''[https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russia-fsu/2010-09-01/russias-new-nobility Russia's New Nobility − The Rise of the Security Services in Putin's Kremlin]'', in: [[Foreign Affairs]] (foreignaffairs.com), 1. September 2010</ref> While newly founded aristocratic associations in Russia recognize such "ennoblings" and include these families into registers of the nobility, accepting them as members, the traditional associations of the descendants of the ''[[White émigré]]s'' (such as the Russian [[CILANE]] member association ''Union de la Noblesse Russe'' based in Paris) reject the admission of such "new nobles"<ref>''[http://www.noblesse-russie.org/UNR_devenir.php?l=Fr Comment devenir membre de l'UNR]'', on www.noblesse-russie.org, website of the ''Union de la Noblesse Russe'', Paris (French): ''“Absolute condition: Belonging to the hereditary nobility of the former Russian Empire through legitimate and direct male descent.”'' The same applies to the Association of [[Baltic knighthoods]], which unites the families of the Baltic-German enrolled nobility of the former Russian Empire.</ref> on the grounds that Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna is neither the undisputed pretender to the throne nor does she - who is not a reigning [[monarch]] - herself have any constitutional authority to ennoble.

After previously voicing her support for [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Crimea]] and [[Donbas]] annexation in 2014 by Russia<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbth.com/international/2014/04/17/grand_duchess_maria_russia_will_not_give_up_crimea_despite_sanc_35993.html|title=Grand Duchess Maria: Russia will not give up Crimea despite sanctions|date=17 April 2014|website=Russia Beyond}}</ref> she said in an interview on her website in April 2018: "Before the Russian people today and our descendants stretches a long and gradual path toward the restoration of the power and might of Russia."<ref>Statement on their website from April 14, 2018: ''[https://imperialhouse.ru/en/allnews-en/news/grand-duchess-maria-of-russia-no-one-has-the-right-to-sit-in-judgment-of-russia.html Grand Duchess Maria of Russia: No One Has the Right to Sit in Judgment of Russia]''</ref> She issued a statement with regard to the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Ukraine: Princess Romanova condemns the invasion|url=https://globalhappenings.com/top-global-news/133603.html|work=GlobalHappenings|date=24 March 2022}}</ref> regretting the civil war between brotherly nations and stressing that the imperial family does not feel entitled to express a political position.<ref>„The Grand Duchess of Russia calls for peace in Ukraine with an ambiguous statement“: ''[https://www.revistavanityfair.es/articulos/gran-duquesa-rusia-ucrania-guerra-putin La gran duquesa de Rusia pide la paz en Ucrania con un ambiguo comunicado]'', in: [[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] (Spanish edition), 25 February 2022</ref> This attitude has not gone without criticism.<ref>[https://tsarnicholas.org/2022/03/05/the-unholy-alliance-of-maria-and-vlad/ The unholy alliance of Maria and Vlad], by Paul Gilbert, March 5, 2022 on tsarnicholas.org</ref> She herself admitted in an interview that her stance inevitably affects the relationship between herself and other European royal families, but that they would never forget the fact that they are related and continue the dialogue. But, as she emphasized, „no normal person could possibly think that the House of Romanov would be on the side of those who seek to weaken Russia. Foreigners therefore treat us as rivals who are worthy of respect... Every imperial and royal family naturally promotes and defends the position of their country“.<ref>Interview with Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna (by Vyacheslav Terekhov on her website) from April 14, 2018: ''[https://imperialhouse.ru/en/allnews-en/news/grand-duchess-maria-of-russia-no-one-has-the-right-to-sit-in-judgment-of-russia.html Grand Duchess Maria of Russia: No One Has the Right to Sit in Judgment of Russia]''</ref>

In 2023, on the occasion of the seventieth birthday of the Grand Duchess, Patriarch Kirill made an unequivocal recognition of her position as Head of the House of Romanov in a congratulatory letter published on the Patriarchal website addressing her as "Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, Head of the Russian Imperial House" (Великой княгине Марии Владимировне, главе Российского Императорского Дома), and praising her efforts in the fields of charity, philanthropy, and culture.<ref>{{cite web|title=Congratulations of His Holiness the Patriarch Kirill to Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna on her Jubilee|url=http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/6086651.html|publisher=Official Site of the Moscow Patriarchate|access-date=28 December 2023}}</ref>

==Honours==
=== Russian Dynastic honours ===
* {{flagicon image|Imperial Standard of the Emperor of Russia (1858–1917).svg}} [[House of Romanov]]: Sovereign Knight of the [[Order of St. Andrew]]<ref name="Burke's Peerage & Gentry">{{cite book |last1=Sainty |first1=Guy Stair |title=World Orders of Knighthood and Merit |date=2007 |publisher=Burke's Peerage & Gentry |isbn=9780971196674 |pages=2,086 }}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web |title="Register of Orders of Chivalry: Report of the International Commission for Orders of Chivalry; 2016" |url=http://www.icocregister.org/2016.ICOCRegister.pdf |website=icocregister.org |publisher=International commission for orders of chivalry |access-date=28 November 2021}}</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Imperial Standard of the Emperor of Russia (1858–1917).svg}} [[House of Romanov]]: Sovereign and Grand Mistress Dame Grand Cordon of the [[Order of St. Catherine]]<ref name="Burke's Peerage & Gentry"/><ref name="auto"/>
* {{flagicon image|Imperial Standard of the Emperor of Russia (1858–1917).svg}} [[House of Romanov]]: Sovereign Knight of the [[Order of St. Alexander Nevsky]]<ref name="Burke's Peerage & Gentry"/><ref name="auto"/>
* {{flagicon image|Imperial Standard of the Emperor of Russia (1858–1917).svg}} [[House of Romanov]]: Sovereign Knight of the [[Order of the White Eagle (Russian Empire)|Order of the White Eagle]]<ref name="Burke's Peerage & Gentry"/><ref name="auto"/> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nicholasbanicholson.com/imperial-royal-order-of-st-stanislas/ |title=Imperial and Royal Order of Saint Stanislas — Nicholas B.A. Nicholson |publisher=Nicholasbanicholson.com |access-date=10 July 2015}}</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Imperial Standard of the Emperor of Russia (1858–1917).svg}} [[House of Romanov]]: Sovereign of the [[Order of St. George]]<ref name="Burke's Peerage & Gentry"/><ref name="auto"/>
* {{flagicon image|Imperial Standard of the Emperor of Russia (1858–1917).svg}} [[House of Romanov]]: Sovereign Knight Grand Cordon of the [[Order of St. Vladimir]]<ref name="Burke's Peerage & Gentry"/><ref name="auto"/>
* {{flagicon image|Imperial Standard of the Emperor of Russia (1858–1917).svg}} [[House of Romanov]]: Sovereign Knight Grand Cordon of the [[Order of St. Anna]]<ref name="Burke's Peerage & Gentry"/><ref name="auto"/>
* {{flagicon image|Imperial Standard of the Emperor of Russia (1858–1917).svg}} [[House of Romanov]]: Sovereign Knight Grand Cordon of the [[Order of St. Stanislaus (Russian Empire)|Order of Saint Stanislaus]]<ref name="Burke's Peerage & Gentry"/><ref name="auto"/>
* {{flagicon image|Imperial Standard of the Emperor of Russia (1858–1917).svg}} [[House of Romanov]]: Sovereign Knight Grand Cordon of the [[Order of Saint Michael the Archangel]]
* {{flagicon image|Imperial Standard of the Emperor of Russia (1858–1917).svg}} [[House of Romanov]]: Founder Sovereign Grand Mistress Dame of the [[Order of Saint Anastasia]]

=== Russian Orthodox Church ===
* {{Flag|Russian Empire|name=Russian Orthodox Church}}: Order of St. [[Sergius of Radonezh]], 1st Class <ref>{{cite web |last1=Gilbert |first1=Paul |title=Grand Duchess Maria Awarded Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh Ist Class |url=http://www.angelfire.com/pa/ImperialRussian/blog/index.blog/1460605/grand-duchess-maria-awarded-order-of-st-sergius-of-radonezh-ist-class/ |publisher=ROYAL RUSSIA |access-date=21 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110011604/http://www.angelfire.com/pa/ImperialRussian/blog/index.blog/1460605/grand-duchess-maria-awarded-order-of-st-sergius-of-radonezh-ist-class/ |archive-date=10 January 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{Flagicon|Russian Empire}} [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]]: Order of [[Our Lady of the Sign]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Gilbert |first=Paul |url=http://www.angelfire.com/pa/ImperialRussian/blog/index.blog/1452076/grand-duchess-maria-vladimirovna-visits-new-york/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812133723/http://www.angelfire.com/pa/ImperialRussian/blog/index.blog/1452076/grand-duchess-maria-vladimirovna-visits-new-york/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 August 2014 |title=ROYAL RUSSIA: News, Videos & Photographs About the Romanov Dynasty, Monarchy and Imperial Russia - Updated Daily |publisher=Angelfire.com |date=12 December 2013 |access-date=10 July 2015}}</ref> 1st Class
* {{Flagicon|Russian Empire}} [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]]: Medal of [[John of Shanghai and San Francisco]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.synod.com/synod/eng2010/5envisithihmv.html |title=The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia - Official Website |publisher=Synod.com |access-date=10 July 2015}}</ref>

=== Moldovan Orthodox Church ===
* {{Flagicon|Moldova}} [[Moldovan Orthodox Church]]: Medal of [[Parascheva of the Balkans|Saint Paraskevi]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.400years-romanovs.com/events/romanov-anniversary-liturgy-and-panihida-assumption-cathedral-moscow-kremlin|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141126215208/http://www.400years-romanovs.com/events/romanov-anniversary-liturgy-and-panihida-assumption-cathedral-moscow-kremlin|url-status=dead|title=Romanov Anniversary - Liturgy and Panihida in the Assumption Cathedra…|date=26 November 2014|archive-date=26 November 2014}}</ref>

=== Ukrainian Orthodox Church ===
* {{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)]]: Medal of [[Saint Barbara]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://imperialhouse.ru/eng/allnews/news/2009/1167.html |title=Press Release on the Visit of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, to Russia for the Divine Services and Celebrations on the Occasion of the Enthronement of His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, 30 January – 3 February 2009 |publisher=Imperialhouse.ru |access-date=10 July 2015 |archive-date=10 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310101213/http://imperialhouse.ru/eng/allnews/news/2009/1167.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Foreign dynastic ===
* {{Flagicon|Ethiopia|1897}} [[Solomonic dynasty|Ethiopian Imperial Family]]: Knight Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Queen of Sheba]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/dynastyhistory/honoursaward/433.html |title=Decree №1/Nic.-2001 |publisher=Imperialhouse.ru |access-date=10 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712075228/http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/dynastyhistory/honoursaward/433.html |archive-date=12 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://estonianmonarchistleague.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/in-honour-of-heir.html?m=1 |title=The Estonian Monarchist League: In Honour of the Heir of Imperial Russia |publisher=Estonianmonarchistleague.blogspot.co.uk |date=20 February 2010 |access-date=10 July 2015}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Georgia}} [[Bagrationi dynasty|Georgian Royal Family]]: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of Queen Tamara (1918)|Order of Queen Tamara]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ordenskreuz.com/georgia.htm |title=Royal House of Georgia |publisher=Ordenskreuz.com |access-date=10 July 2015 |archive-date=22 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222142800/http://www.ordenskreuz.com/georgia.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* {{flag|Sovereign Military Order of Malta}}: Bailiff Grand Cross of [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta#Sovereign Military Hospitalier Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta|Sovereign Military Order of Malta]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/allnews/photo-gallery/20140403.html |title=2014-04-03. Meeting of the Head of the House of Romanoff, the Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, and the Heir, Tsesarevich, and Grand Duke George of Russia with the Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fr |publisher=Imperialhouse.ru |date=3 April 2014 |access-date=10 July 2015 |archive-date=18 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018140844/http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/allnews/photo-gallery/20140403.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imperialhouse.ru/uploads/image/photo-gallery/news/2014/3983/8.jpg|format=JPG|title=Photographic image|website=Imperialhouse.ru|access-date=15 January 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314093822/http://www.imperialhouse.ru/uploads/image/photo-gallery/news/2014/3983/8.jpg|archive-date=14 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Kingdom of Portugal}} [[House of Braganza|Portuguese Royal Family]]: Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of Saint Michael of the Wing|Royal Order of Saint Michael of the Wing]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/allnews/news/2003/724.html |title=News Release of the Official Visit to Portugal of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, 6-9 November 2003 |publisher=Imperialhouse.ru |date=9 November 2003 |access-date=10 July 2015 |archive-date=12 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312100618/http://imperialhouse.ru/eng/allnews/news/2003/724.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===States===
* {{Flag|Transnistria}}: Commander of the Order of the Republic<ref>{{cite web |url=http://imperialhouse.ru/eng/allnews/news/2009/1037.html |title=Press Release On the Official Visit of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, to Moscow, Odessa, and the Transdniestria 4-13 May 2009 |publisher=Imperialhouse.ru |date=13 May 2009 |access-date=10 July 2015 |archive-date=10 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310003752/http://imperialhouse.ru/eng/allnews/news/2009/1037.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Awards ===
* {{Flag|Italy}}: [[Honorary citizenship|Honorary Citizen]] of the City of [[Agrigento]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imperialhouse.ru/uploads/file/imperialhouse/news/2013/3902/1.doc |format=DOC |title=Press Release : The Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, and H.I.H. the Heir, Tsesarevich, and Grand Duke George of Russia, traveled to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in Ukraine to participate in the Celebrations of the 400th Anniversary of the Ending of the Time of Troubles and the Ascension to the Throne of the House of Romanoff, September 19-23, 2013 |publisher=Imperialhouse.ru |access-date=10 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924034231/http://www.imperialhouse.ru/uploads/file/imperialhouse/news/2013/3902/1.doc |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* {{Flag|Russia}}: Winner of the  [[Person of the Year|Russian International Person of the Year]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Gilbert |first=Paul |url=http://www.angelfire.com/pa/ImperialRussian/blog/index.blog/1441864/grand-duchess-maria-vladimirovna-voted-person-of-the-year/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204163530/http://www.angelfire.com/pa/ImperialRussian/blog/index.blog/1441864/grand-duchess-maria-vladimirovna-voted-person-of-the-year/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 December 2014 |title=ROYAL RUSSIA: News, Videos & Photographs About the Romanov Dynasty, Monarchy and Imperial Russia - Updated Daily |publisher=Angelfire.com |date=2 November 2012 |access-date=10 July 2015}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Russia}}: [[Honorary citizenship|Honorary Citizen]] of the [[Ivolginsky District]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/allnews/news/2014/4126.html |title=The Head of the House of Romanoff Travels to Moscow, Buryatia, and the Irkutsk Region |publisher=Imperialhouse.ru |access-date=10 July 2015 |archive-date=7 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307125849/http://imperialhouse.ru/eng/allnews/news/2014/4126.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* {{Flag|Russia}}: Honorary member of the [[Imperial Academy of Arts|Russian Academy of Arts]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.400years-romanovs.com/events/princess-maria-romanova-was-made-honorary-member-academy-arts|title=Princess Maria Romanova was made an honorary member of the Academy of Arts - Official Web site Online magazine IMPERIAL CLUB|date=5 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205105848/http://www.400years-romanovs.com/events/princess-maria-romanova-was-made-honorary-member-academy-arts|archive-date=5 December 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Russian Empire|name=Russia}}: Medal of the Assembly of the Russian Nobility<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/allnews/news/2003/589.html |title=Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, sent an official congratulatory notice to the Chair of the Russian Nobility Association, Prince A. S. Obolenskii, on the occasion of his 80-th birthday |publisher=Imperialhouse.ru |date=12 October 2003 |access-date=10 July 2015 |archive-date=7 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307065759/http://imperialhouse.ru/eng/allnews/news/2003/589.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Ancestry==
{{ahnentafel
|collapsed=yes |align=center  |ref=<ref name="burke77">[[Hugh Massingberd|Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh]]. "[[Burke's Peerage|Burke’s]] Royal Families of the World: ''Volume I Europe & Latin America'', 1977, pp. 235, 268, 271, 474. {{ISBN|0-85011-023-8}}</ref>
|boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc;
|boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9;
|boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;
|boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;
|1= 1. '''Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia'''
|2= 2. [[Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich of Russia|Vladimir Kirillovich, Grand Duke of Russia]]
|3= 3. [[Princess Leonida Bagration of Mukhrani]]
|4= 4. [[Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia|Kirill Vladimirovich, Grand Duke of Russia]]
|5= 5. [[Princess Victoria Melita of Edinburgh]]
|6= 6. [[George Bagration of Mukhrani|George, Prince Bagration of Mukhrani]]
|7= 7. Helena Nowina Złotnicka
|8= 8. [[Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia]]
|9= 9. [[Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
|10= 10. [[Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]]
|11= 11. [[Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia]]
|12= 12. [[Alexander Bagration of Mukhrani|Prince Alexander Bagration of Mukhrani]]
|13= 13. Maria Dmitrievna [[Russian nobility|Golovatcheva]]
|14= 14. Sigismund [[Nowina coat of arms|Nowina Złotnicki]]
|15= 15. Princess Maria Elisabarowna [[Duchy of Ksani|Eristavi of Ksani]]
}}

==See also==
* [[List of grand duchesses of Russia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite book |author=Léonida, Grande-duchesse de Russie |author-link=Leonida Bagration of Mukhrani |title=Chaque matin est une grace |location= |publisher=Éditions Jean-Claude Lattès |year=2000 |isbn=2709621622 |language=fr }}
* {{Cite book |last=Massie |first=Robert K. |author-link=Robert K. Massie |title=The Romanovs : The Final Chapter |location=[[New York City]] |publisher=[[Random House]] |isbn=0-224-04192-4 |year=1995 |oclc=185630578 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Prassoloff |first=Boris |title=Tsars sans empire : Les prétendants Romanov en exil 1919–1992 |location=[[Paris]] |publisher=Éditions Perrin |year=2024 |isbn=978-2262103415 |language=fr }}

==External links==
* [http://www.imperialhouse.ru/en/ Official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120510140403/http://www.angelfire.com/pa/ImperialRussian/royalty/russia/mariavladimirovna.html Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna Article, Video Interview and Photographs]
* [http://www.riuo.org/SUCCESSION_IN_ENGLISH.pdf Prince Cyril Toumanoff's Paper on the Succession] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326171021/http://riuo.org/SUCCESSION_IN_ENGLISH.pdf |date=26 March 2016 }}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[House of Romanov]]|23 December|1953}}
{{s-roy|ru}}
{{s-break}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich of Russia|Vladimir Kirillovich]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[House of Romanov|Head of the Imperial House of Romanov]]|line=Disputed by [[Prince Andrew Romanov]]|years=21 April 1992 – present}}
{{s-inc|heir=[[Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia|George Mikhailovich]]|heir-type=Heir apparent}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-pre}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich of Russia|Vladimir Kirillovich]]}}
{{s-tul|title=[[List of Russian rulers#Emperors of Russia, 1721–1917|Empress and Autocrat of All Russia]]|years=21 April 1992 – present|reason=[[Russian Revolution]] leads to [[Abolition of monarchy]] and Dissolution of [[Russian Empire]]}}
{{s-inc|heir= [[Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia|George Mikhailovich]]|heir-type=Heir apparent}}
{{s-end}}

{{Russian grand duchesses}}
{{Prussian princesses by marriage}}
{{Pretenders to the Russian throne since 1917}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maria Vladimirovna Of Russia, Grand Duchess}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:House of Romanov in exile]]
[[Category:Grand duchesses of Russia]]
[[Category:Russian monarchists]]
[[Category:Alumni of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford]]
[[Category:Pretenders to the Russian throne]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of St. George of the First Degree]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of St. Vladimir, 1st class]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of St. Anna, 1st class]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Saint Stanislaus (Russian), 1st class]]
[[Category:Russian activists against the Russian invasion of Ukraine]]
[[Category:Russian people of Georgian descent]]
[[Category:Members of the Russian Orthodox Church]]
[[Category:Spanish people of Russian descent]]
[[Category:Spanish people of Georgian descent]]
[[Category:Spanish people of German descent]]
[[Category:Spanish people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:Recipients of orders, decorations, and medals of Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Saint Catherine]]