Thursday, April 28, 2011

A dowry of million rubles for Jutta

April 28, 1899


Princess Jutta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz is not receiving a dowry of one million rubles ($500,000) from Nicholas II of Russia because she is "in any way related to him" but, according to the Marquise de Fontenay, the princess, who is engaged to marry the Crown Prince of Montenegro, is receiving the present because Nicholas and his late father, Alexander III,  "have made it a rule to give each of the numerous children of the impoverished Prince of Montenegro a million rubles on the occasion of their marriage."

The Prince of Montenegro, who has no personal fortune, is financially dependent on the Russian Emperor, and his daughters have all been educated in St. Petersburg at the expense of the Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna.

Princess Jutta is said to be a "pretty girl," and well known in London.  She is a granddaughter of the reigning Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, whose wife, Augusta, is a British princess, and sister of the Duke of Cambridge.   Augusta is also the aunt of the Duchess of York.

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