MOSCOW, September 15 (RIA Novosti) — Prince Nicholas Romanovich Romanov, the oldest member of the Russian Empire's Romanov Dynasty, died in Tuscany, Italy at the age of 92, a spokesman for the House of Romanov, Alexander Zakatov, told RIA Novosti Monday.
According to Zakatov, the head of the Russian Imperial House, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, has already expressed her condolences to the closest relatives of Nikolai Romanov and asks everyone to pray for his soul.
"Nicholas Romanovich Romanov tried to provide charitable assistance. In Russia, together with his brother, they created "The Romanov Fund for Russia," this activity was always appreciated by Maria Vladimirovna. Sometimes, he [Nicholas Romanov] made statements on different issues of public concern, issues, linked with the Russian history, the history of the House of Romanov, which, to tell the truth, did not always correspond with the official position of the Russian Imperial House, but, as a private individual, Romanov, of course was entitled to his own opinion, " Zakatov said.
He added that even though Maria Vladimirovna sometimes had disagreements with Nicholas Romanov, she never stopped "treating him as a relative, with love and respect."
Nicholas Romanov is the great great grandson of Nicholas I, the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855. Grand Duke Nicholas Romanovich was born in 1922 in France, he had three daughters, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He spent his final years living in Switzerland and Italy. The charitable fund, created by Nicholas Romanov, provides help for orphanages and hospitals in Russia and CIS.
