The Birthday of Princess Victoria Romanovna Romanoff!

Princess Victoria Romanova.
Photograph courtesy of the Russian Imperial Chancellery.

Today, Her Serene Highness Princess Victoria Romanova Romanoff celebrates her birthday!

Grand Duke George Mikhailovich and Princess Victoria Romanovna.
Photograph (c) Russian Imperial Chancellery.

Born in Rome on 18 May 1982, Rebecca Virginia Bettarini was the first daughter and only child of His Excellency Ambassador Roberto Bettarini and his wife Carla Virginia Cacciatore. Due to her father's many diplomatic postings, she grew up in Europe, the Middle East, and South America. She studied political science, with an emphasis on international and European studies, at Luiss Guido Carli University; the princess went on to obtain a master's degree. She also worked as a volunteer for the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. In 2017, Rebecca Bettarini became the Director of the Russian Imperial Foundation. In 2020, Rebecca was received into the Russian Orthodox Church with the name Victoria Romanovna, in honour of the Holy Martyr Victoria of Rome, and in memory of Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna. Victoria's engagement to Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia was announced in January 2021. Her mother-in-law, Grand Duchess Maria, decreed that Victoria would be styled and titled HSH Princess Victoria Romanova Romanoff after her marriage. Grand Duke George and Princess Victoria were religiously wed in October 2021 at Saint Petersburg. The couple live in Moscow, where they are engaged in charitable works and philanthropic endeavours.