A GRAND ALLIANCE THE DESCENDANTS OF GRAND DUKE MICHAEL OF RUSSIA AND COUNTESS SOPHIE VON MERENBERG By Marlene A. Eilers Koenig author of Queen Victoria's Descendants A cousin of the Russian Tsar, Grand Duke Michael flouted Imperial authority when he married for love. His chosen bride, Countess Sophie von Merenberg, was not of equal rank. Thus, the marriage was morganatic. This marital scandal meant certain exile and a loss of most of Michael's privileges as a member of the Russian Imperial family. In hindsight, marital exile saved his life. Michael and Sophie had three children, Zia, Nada and Michael, known as Boy. Zia and Nada's marriages to Sir Harold Wernher, Bt., and Prince George of Battenberg would bring the family further into British aristocratic and royal circles. Lady Zia was best known, perhaps, for her position in British horse racing - and a chum of fellow racing enthusiast, Queen Elizabeth II. Today, all of Michael and Sophie's descendants live in Britain. They include the Marquess of Milford Haven, two future Dukes (Westminster and Abercorn), a future Earl (Dalhousie) and Scottish laird (Burnett of Leys), Hungarian nobility and Russian princes. A Grand Alliance 50 pages. No illustrations. For more information, please send an e-mail to Agrandalliance@aol.com.