Four hundred years ago, in 1613, the reign of the Romanov dynasty began in Russia with 16-year-old Mikhail Romanov. One hundred years ago, in 1913, whilst his elder brother Tsar Nicholas was celebrating, for the last time, a Romanov centenary, his banished younger brother Grand Duke Michael was renting Knebworth House.
Michael had married a divorcee, Natasha Brasova – his mother described the match as “unspeakably awful in every way” – and had been cut off by his brother and forced to live abroad. The year Michael and his new wife spent at Knebworth was described by Natasha as the happiest year of her life, and photos in the Knebworth House Archive (many taken by Michael himself) show relaxed groups of family and friends (including members of the recently formed Ballets Russes) enjoying Knebworth House and Gardens. Marking this centenary, we have assembled a collection of these photographs which will be on display in the house during open hours in July.
Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com