18 Facts About Grand Duke Cyril

Grand Duke Cyril was the uncle of Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark and great-uncle of Prince Michael of Kent.

Grand Duke Kirill followed a career in the Russian navy serving for 20 years in the Naval Guards.

Grand Duke Cyril took part in the Russo-Japanese War, barely surviving the sinking of the battleship Petropavlovsk at Port Arthur in April 1904.

Grand Duke Cyril achieved the rank of rear admiral in the Imperial Navy in 1916.

Grand Duke Cyril worked for the restoration of the monarchy from exile for the rest of his life, but his claims were contested by some factions of the monarchists in a division that continues today.

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Grand Duke Cyril wrote a book of memoirs, My Life in Russia's Service, which was published after his death.

Grand Duke Cyril's father was Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, the third son of Tsar Alexander II of Russia.

Grand Duke Cyril's mother was Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, nee Duchess Marie Alexandrine of Mecklenburg.

Grand Duke Vladimir was cultured and a great patron of the arts, while Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna was a renowned hostess in the Imperial capital.

Grand Duke Kirill was six months old when his eldest brother, Alexander, died in childhood.

Grand Duke Cyril's education was supervised by General Alexander Daller, a retired artillery officer.

Grand Duke Cyril received military training and religion instruction, and learned the languages spoken by the Romanovs: Russian, English, French and German.

Grand Duke Cyril traveled extensively with his parents visiting many European countries, including Spain.

Grand Duke Cyril began his naval career as a midshipman on the ship Moriak in the summer of 1892.

Grand Duke Cyril returned to his home in Tsarkoe Selo in the winter 1892 and spent the following year studying for his examinations at the naval college.

Grand Duke Cyril concluded his training on the ship Vernyl on the Baltic sea in the summer of 1895.

Grand Duke Cyril was invited to the newly formed Russian-speaking club "Rousskaia Beceda" and elected Honorary President.

Grand Duke Kirill married his first cousin, Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha on 8 October 1905 without any consent from Tsar Nicholas II.