Sunday, October 5, 2014

Prince David Chavchavadze(1924-2014)

Wedding of Princess Marie and Grand Duke George
(Marlene A Eilers Koenig Collection)


Prince David Chavchavadze, the only son of Prince Paul Chavchavadze and Princess Nina of Russia, died today, October 5,  in Washington, D.C.  He was 90 years old, and had been ill for some time.

The funeral will take place on October 8 at St. Nicholas Cathedral. in Washington, D.C.

David, a naturalized American citizen, worked for many years as  CIA agent.

His maternal grandparents were Princess Marie of Greece and Denmark (daughter of King George I and Queen Olga, nee Grand Duchess Olga Constantinova of Russia) and Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia.  His grandfather was executed in January 1919 by the Bolsheviks.  Prince David's father, Paul, was a member of Georgian noble family.

Grand Duchess Marie of Russia (nee Princess of Greece and Denmark)
Marlene A Eilers Koenig Collection

Princess Nina of Russia (de Laszlo portrait)

Prince David and Princess Eugenie Chavchavadze at their home in Washington, D.C. in the 1990s.  Photo by Marlene A. Eilers Koenig

Prince David in the 1990s  photo by Marlene Eilers Koenig

David was born in London on May 20, 1924.   Three years later, his parents emigrated to the United States


His first two marriages to Helen Husted and Judith Clippinger ended in divorce.    He is survived by his third wife, Eugenie, whom he married in 1979, four children, Maria and Alexandra (by his first wife) and Catherine and Michael (by his second marriage) and numerous grandchildren.

Prince David was the author of two books, Crowns & Trenchcoats, and The Grand Dukes, both of which were published by Atlantic International.  I had the pleasure of working with David on both books, as well as  A Romanov Diary, the autobiography of Grand Duchess Marie, which I edited.  This latter title is difficult to find as it was published in a limited edition. 




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