Pretender to visit Russia Georgy, 16, will take czarevich's vow

KOSTROMA, Russia -- He's short, squat and 16 years old, lives in Spain and likes pizza. But Grand Duke Georgy Mikhailovich Romanov is ready to drop his modern European life, if his people call on him, to become czar of Russia.

"I don't know what the people will want," this would-be autocrat told the Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda. But he and his mother, Grand Duchess Maria, who say they have the best claim to the throne among the dozens of descendants of the last czar, Nicholas II, plan to visit Russia this summer. There the boy prince intends to swear the traditional vow of the czarevich, or czar-in-waiting, to "Russia, the Orthodox faith and the imperial house."

The place they have chosen for the rite is an idyllic vision of eternal Russia -- the onion-domed Ipatievsky Monastery on the Volga River here, spiritual birthplace of the Romanov dynasty, which ruled Russia for 300 years.

Their planned visit has gotten the nod from Russian authorities. Russian newspapers said the itinerary for Georgy's visit includes meetings with government, military and church officials.

Georgy's grandfather, Grand Duke Vladimir Romanov, visited Russia in 1991. Since his death, Georgy and his mother have requested permission to make a permanent home in Russia. There has been no official reply.

Pub Date: 6/22/97