Princess Olga Andreevna Romanoff
Encyclopedia
Princess Olga Andreevna Romanoff (born 8 April 1950) is a Russian princess and descendant of the House of Romanov.
the daughter of Prince Andrei Alexandrovich of Russia
and his second wife Nadine Sylvia Ada McDougall (1908–2000). Her father was the son of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna
, sister of Tsar Nicholas II.
Princess Olga is the great-granddaughter of the Dowager Empress Maria, through which she is related to all the major royal house
s of Europe
. She is also a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
. She is the only child of Prince Andrei to have been educated at home by private tutors. She joined the Romanov Family Association
in 1980 and currently serves as a committee member.
She lives with her family in Provender Manor near Faversham
, Kent
. Provender is 29-room, 14th-century manor house that she spent a large sum of money restoring.
Princess Olga uses the English version of her family name, preferring 'Romanoff' to the Russian 'Romanova'. From 1950 to 1975, she held the title Princess Olga Andreevna Romanoff. In 1975, she obtained the title Princess Olga Andreevna Romanoff, Mrs Thomas Mathew.
In 2006, she was on Australian Princess
(an Australian reality TV show) giving advice to competitors.
, she married Thomas Mathew (b. 1945) on 1 October 1975 in London. They separated in 1989 after having had four children:
N.B. Since the Russian revolution members of the Imperial family have tended to drop the territorial designation “of Russia” and use the princely title with the surname Romanov. However this title, and even her right to the surname Romanov are disputed by some.
Biography
She was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
the daughter of Prince Andrei Alexandrovich of Russia
Prince Andrei Alexandrovich of Russia
Prince Andrei Alexandrovich of Russia was a member of the Imperial Family of Russia. A son of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia and Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia he was also the eldest nephew of Emperor Nicholas II of Russia...
and his second wife Nadine Sylvia Ada McDougall (1908–2000). Her father was the son of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna
Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia
Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia was a daughter of Tsar Alexander III of Russia and the elder of Tsar Nicholas II two sisters. She married her cousin Grand Duke Alexander Mikailovich of Russia, with whom she had seven children....
, sister of Tsar Nicholas II.
Princess Olga is the great-granddaughter of the Dowager Empress Maria, through which she is related to all the major royal house
Royal House
A royal house or royal dynasty consists of at least one, but usually more monarchs who are related to one another, as well as their non-reigning descendants and spouses. Monarchs of the same realm who are not related to one another are usually deemed to belong to different houses, and each house is...
s of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. She is also a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
. She is the only child of Prince Andrei to have been educated at home by private tutors. She joined the Romanov Family Association
Romanov Family Association
The Romanov Family Association, Obyedineniye Chlenov Roda Romanovykh , is an organization for male-line descendants of Emperor Paul I of Russia...
in 1980 and currently serves as a committee member.
She lives with her family in Provender Manor near Faversham
Faversham
Faversham is a market town and civil parish in the Swale borough of Kent, England. The parish of Faversham grew up around an ancient sea port on Faversham Creek and was the birthplace of the explosives industry in England.-History:...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. Provender is 29-room, 14th-century manor house that she spent a large sum of money restoring.
Princess Olga uses the English version of her family name, preferring 'Romanoff' to the Russian 'Romanova'. From 1950 to 1975, she held the title Princess Olga Andreevna Romanoff. In 1975, she obtained the title Princess Olga Andreevna Romanoff, Mrs Thomas Mathew.
In 2006, she was on Australian Princess
Australian Princess
Australian Princess is an Australian reality television show that first premiered on Network Ten on 5 October 2005. It is produced by Granada Productions, who are responsible for other programs such as Dancing with the Stars, Australia's Next Top Model and Merrick and Rosso Unplanned.The show is...
(an Australian reality TV show) giving advice to competitors.
Marriage and children
Once seen as a possible bride for Charles, Prince of WalesCharles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, she married Thomas Mathew (b. 1945) on 1 October 1975 in London. They separated in 1989 after having had four children:
- Nicholas Mathew (b. 1976)
- Francis Mathew (b. 1978) a freelance photographer
- Alexandra Mathew (b. 1981)
- Thomas Mathew (1987–1989)
Title and styles
- Her Serene Highness Princess Olga Andreevna of Russia
N.B. Since the Russian revolution members of the Imperial family have tended to drop the territorial designation “of Russia” and use the princely title with the surname Romanov. However this title, and even her right to the surname Romanov are disputed by some.