Prince Constantine Constantinovich of Russia

Who was Prince Constantine Constantinovich of Russia?

Prince Constantine Constantinovich of Russia, nicknamed Kostia by the family, was the fourth child of Grand Duke Constantine Constantinovich of Russia by his wife Elisbeth Mavrikievna née HH Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg.

The Prince was a silent, shy person who fancied theatre and was educated in the Corps des Pages, a military academy in Saint Petersburg. He served in the army during the First World War. A priest who met him at the front, Hegumen Seraphim, wrote: "He was an extremely modest officer of the Guard of the Izmaylovsky Regiment, much beloved by officers and soldiers alike; along with them he was a brave soldier who distinguished himself. I personally remember seeing him in the trenches among the soldiers, risking his life."

After seeing the happiness of his two elder siblings, John and Tatiana, Constantine was keen to start his own family. He fancied the Tsar's oldest daughter, Olga, but was also keen on Princess Elisabeth of Romania. Elisabeth's grandmother, the former Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, wrote to her daughter, the Crown Princess Marie of Romania in 1911, saying, "The young Kostia is seized now with terror that she will be snatched away, as he says, before he has even made her acquaintance. The young man seems really quite nice, is much liked in his regiment, and they have really been very well brought up. This one is full of life...if you have nothing against this youth coming on a passing visit, will you telegraph to me." However, the request was denied on political grounds, as Prince John was married to Helen of Serbia, and Constantine never did find the marriage he longed for.