SIMFEROPOL, August 25 /TASS/. Prince Dimitry, the oldest member of the Romanov imperial family, has said he is ready to leave Denmark, where he currently lives, and move to reside permanently in Crimea.
"I would do that with great pleasure," Prince Dimitry told TASS. Of course, I need to ask my wife first. We should also think about what to do with our house in Denmark. We can sell it and come here. Naturally, I would be glad to move here as soon as possible," the prince stressed.
Romanov House head on first visit to Crimea since reunification with Russia
Prince Dimitri Romanov, the oldest relative of last Russian Emperor Nicholas II, arrived in Crimea on Tuesday for the first time since the Black Sea peninsula’s reunification with Russia in March 2014.
In an interview with TASS Prince Dimitri said that Crimea had always been an important part of Russia. "My father loved Crimea the most," he said. "And now I am able to visit Crimea, which belongs to Russia again."
Prince Dimitri said that he was planning to visit the Livadia Palace where a monument to Nicholas II was recently unveiled and the Dulber Palace, which was the summer residence of his grandfather Pyotr Nikolayevich, the inspector general of Russian engineering troops.
"I hope that I will realize my lifelong dream to visit Sevastopol, the city of Russian naval glory," the prince said. His grand uncle, Grand Duke Nikolay Nikolayevich, the commander-in-chief of the Russian army and naval forces, used to be an honorary citizen of Sevastopol in pre-revolutionary Russia.
The 89-year old Romanov House head is visiting Crimea with his wife Princess Dorrit.
The peninsula’s authorities consider this visit to be symbolic.
Crimea’s head Sergey Aksyonov said the prince’s visit to Crimea was symbolic, adding that he was ready to meet with the distinguished guests.
"I have not received any proposals [to meet with the Romanovs], but if I get I will have no objections," Aksyonov said.
Prince Dimitri was born in Antibes, southern France, in May 1926. He spent many years in France, Italy and Egypt and worked at the headquarters of Denmark’s biggest bank.
"Neither me or other members of the Romanov family are claiming anything except for the right to be useful to Russia," the prince said. In the early 1990s, Prince Dimitri Romanov initiated the establishment of a charity fund to help orphanages and hospitals in Russia and preserve Russia’s cultural heritage.