Russian princess is in love with KZN
A RUSSIAN princess has fulfilled her dream of holidaying in Kwazulu-natal.
Princess Olga Romanoff, 67, a descendant of the House of Romanov, is the daughter of the eldest nephew of Tsar Nicholas II. Her father, Prince Andrei Alexandrovich, and his family were murdered by the Bolsheviks in 1918 as part of the Russian Revolution.
She is one of the last in her generation of the imperial family. Romanoff, who lives in Kent, in south-east England, found herself enjoying the beauty of KZN’S natural surroundings at the Karkloof Safari Spa with her daughter, Alex Mathew, this week and spent time learning more about the country. During her stay, she launched her book, Princess Olga: A Wild and Barefoot Romanov.
Romanoff, who was once considered a possible bride for Prince Charles, wrote the book to share stories about her royal relations. It has been called a “tell-all” book. But her visit to South Africa was about much more than just a book.
She said it was a country she had always wanted to visit. The princess said South Africa, and particularly KZN, had always held a special place in her heart because her grandfather, Herbert Mcdougall, commanded the Natal Mounted Rifles during World War II.
Her step-grandmother hailed from Constantia in Cape Town. Her son, Francis Mathew, lived in South Africa for a year after he completed his schooling, when he spent time helping out on farms belonging to friends.
“My mother Nadine loved South Africa and visited frequently. She spent time at the residence of the Oppenheimers and was invited by them on many occasions. I always wondered why I never visited, I just never got the opportunity. I’d like to come back because I’m in love with the beauty of this place.”
She said she loved seeing animals in their natural habitat and the Karkloof Safari Spa was ideal for this. She has yet to visit other parts of South Africa.