Princess Xenia Andreevna of Russia
Encyclopedia
Princess Xenia Andreevna Romanoff (10 March 1919 – 22 October 2000) was a direct descendant of the Tsars of Russia. She was a great niece of Nicholas II
, the last reigning Russian Emperor.
, on 10 March 1919. She was the eldest child of Prince Andrei Alexandrovich of Russia
(24 January 1897 – 8 May 1981) and Donna Elisabetha Ruffo (1886–1940). Xenia Andreevna descended twice over from the Tsars of Russia.
Her paternal grandfather, Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich
, was the fourth son of Grand Duke Michael, himself the fourth son of Tsar Nicholas I. Grand Duke Alexander's wife, the Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia
, was sister to Nicholas II
.
Xenias’s father - the Tsar's nephew - Prince Andrew Romanoff had in 1918 married Elisaveta Fabrizievna, daughter of Don Fabrizio Ruffo, Duca
di Sasso-Ruffo. During the Russian Revolution Princess Xenia’s parents took refuge in the Crimea
where they married. They escaped Russia in December 1918. Xenia’s mother was already pregnant with her when they left Russian soil.
Princess Xenia had two brothers: Michael and Andrew
. Her mother died of cancer during World War II. Her father remarried and Xenia had one half sister, Princess Olga Andreevna Romanoff
.
Princess Xenia, called "Mysh" in the family, was educated privately and spent much of her childhood in the household of her grandmother Grand Duchess Xenia at Frogmore Cottage, a grace-and-favour house in Windsor Great Park provided by King George V. She also spent some of her early years in London. After King George V's death in 1936, they moved with their grandmother to Wilderness House, another house in the royal gift, at Hampton Court.
Xenia and her siblings had an English nanny, but Russian was spoken at home.
In 1938 She received ballet lessons at the school of Russian Ballet
During World War II
, Princess Xenia Romanov worked as a nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital and later worked as a volunteer with the Russian Benevolent Society for Refugees. She was first married in London on 17 June 1945 to 2nd Lieutenat Calhoun Ancrum from South Carolina
(b.Philippines 28 April 1915); an American airman whose father was a colonel in the US Marine Corps. Cal Ancrum was serving abroad with the US Army when they met.
Initially, they lived in England, then in Germany for a time before moving to the United States. They divorced in 1954. She then met Geoffrey Tooth, head of the Mental Health section at the Ministry of Health and a member of the Expert Advisory Panel at the World Health Organisation. They married on 7 April 1958 in Tehran
. During the 1970s Xenia and Geoffrey Tooth (b. 1 September 1908) settled at Rouffignac
, in the Dordogne
, France
. Geoffrey Tooth died in 1998. Princess Xenia Romanoff outlived her husband two years. She died on 22 October 2000 in Saint-Cernin
. Princess Xenia had no children from any of her marriages.
N.B. After the Russian revolution members of the Imperial family tended to drop the territorial designation “of Russia” and use the princely title with the surname Romanov, usually spelled Romanoff. However this title, and even her right to the surname Romanov were disputed by some.
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
, the last reigning Russian Emperor.
Biography
Princess Xenia was born in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, on 10 March 1919. She was the eldest child 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...
(24 January 1897 – 8 May 1981) and Donna Elisabetha Ruffo (1886–1940). Xenia Andreevna descended twice over from the Tsars of Russia.
Her paternal grandfather, Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich
Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia
Grand Duke Alexander Mihailovich of Russia, Александр Михайлович Aleksandr Mihailovits was a dynast of the Russian Empire, a naval officer, an author, explorer, the brother-in-law of Emperor Nicholas II, and an advisor of the said Emperor.-Biography: Alexander was born the son of Grand Duke...
, was the fourth son of Grand Duke Michael, himself the fourth son of Tsar Nicholas I. Grand Duke Alexander's wife, the Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia
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....
, was sister to Nicholas II
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
.
Xenias’s father - the Tsar's nephew - Prince Andrew Romanoff had in 1918 married Elisaveta Fabrizievna, daughter of Don Fabrizio Ruffo, Duca
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
di Sasso-Ruffo. During the Russian Revolution Princess Xenia’s parents took refuge in the Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
where they married. They escaped Russia in December 1918. Xenia’s mother was already pregnant with her when they left Russian soil.
Princess Xenia had two brothers: Michael and Andrew
Prince Andrew Romanov
Prince Andrew Andreevich Romanoff is a Russian prince and artist.-Biography:He was born in London, United Kingdom, the youngest child of Prince Andrei Alexandrovich of Russia and his first wife Elisabetha Sasso-Ruffo...
. Her mother died of cancer during World War II. Her father remarried and Xenia had one half sister, Princess Olga Andreevna Romanoff
Princess Olga Andreevna Romanoff
Princess Olga Andreevna Romanoff is a Russian princess and descendant of the House of Romanov.-Biography:She was born in London the daughter of Prince Andrei Alexandrovich of Russia and his second wife Nadine Sylvia Ada McDougall...
.
Princess Xenia, called "Mysh" in the family, was educated privately and spent much of her childhood in the household of her grandmother Grand Duchess Xenia at Frogmore Cottage, a grace-and-favour house in Windsor Great Park provided by King George V. She also spent some of her early years in London. After King George V's death in 1936, they moved with their grandmother to Wilderness House, another house in the royal gift, at Hampton Court.
Xenia and her siblings had an English nanny, but Russian was spoken at home.
In 1938 She received ballet lessons at the school of Russian Ballet
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Princess Xenia Romanov worked as a nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital and later worked as a volunteer with the Russian Benevolent Society for Refugees. She was first married in London on 17 June 1945 to 2nd Lieutenat Calhoun Ancrum from South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
(b.Philippines 28 April 1915); an American airman whose father was a colonel in the US Marine Corps. Cal Ancrum was serving abroad with the US Army when they met.
Initially, they lived in England, then in Germany for a time before moving to the United States. They divorced in 1954. She then met Geoffrey Tooth, head of the Mental Health section at the Ministry of Health and a member of the Expert Advisory Panel at the World Health Organisation. They married on 7 April 1958 in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
. During the 1970s Xenia and Geoffrey Tooth (b. 1 September 1908) settled at Rouffignac
Rouffignac
Rouffignac is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
, in the Dordogne
Dordogne
Dordogne is a départment in south-west France. The départment is located in the region of Aquitaine, between the Loire valley and the High Pyrénées named after the great river Dordogne that runs through it...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Geoffrey Tooth died in 1998. Princess Xenia Romanoff outlived her husband two years. She died on 22 October 2000 in Saint-Cernin
Saint-Cernin
Saint-Cernin may refer to the following places in France:* Saint-Cernin, Cantal, a commune in the Cantal department* Saint-Cernin, Lot, a commune in the Lot department...
. Princess Xenia had no children from any of her marriages.
Title and styles
- Her Serene Highness Princess Xenia Andreevna of Russia
N.B. After the Russian revolution members of the Imperial family tended to drop the territorial designation “of Russia” and use the princely title with the surname Romanov, usually spelled Romanoff. However this title, and even her right to the surname Romanov were disputed by some.