Russian Empress to be reburied

Maria Fyodorovna, the spouse of the Russian Emperor Alexander III, is likely to be reburied in the second third of September 2003.

Ivan Artsishevsky, chairman of the state protocol committee of St. Petersburg municipal administration and representative of the Romanov family in Russia, told journalists that an interdepartment commission chaired by Vice Premier Valentina Matviyenko is already created. There was one session during which details of the ceremony were elaborated and suggestions to the Russian President and government were shaped.

By the end of August or beginning of September, first results of the commission's work will be known, Artsishevsky explained. Russian President Vladimir Putin approves of the idea of reburial. The federal budget will pay the ceremonial expenses.

Prince Dimitry Romanov, in turn, believes that the initiative for reburying Maria Fyodorovna must, from the point of view of law, originate from her direct descendant, eldest grandson of her daughter Ksenia, Mikhail Andreyevich (now living in Australia). The Prince explained that Mikhail Andreyevich had already addressed the Queen of Denmark Margrethe II with an appropriate letter. Dimitry's elder brother Nikolai Romanov is holding the letter.

Maria Fyodorovna, born Danish Princess Dagmara, is buried in Copenhagen among Danish kings. She fled Russia in 1918 and lived in Denmark until death. The spouse of the Emperor Alexander III, she bore him six children.