Witnesses for Ioann & Helen's wedding

September 2, 1911

Nicholas II has said he will act as the principal sponsor for his cousin, Prince Ioann of Russia, who will marry Princess Helen of Serbia later this month. Princess Nicholas of Greece (formerly Grand Duchess Helen of Russia) will also be a sponsor for Prince Ioann

 Princess Helen's sponsors will be her grandfather, King Nicholas of Montenegro, and her aunt, Grand Duchess Militza of Russia, who is the wife of Grand Duke Peter. Militza was born a princess of Montenegro. 

 
Helen is the daughter of King Peter I and his late wife, Zorka of Montenegro, who died in childbirth in 1890.

She was largely raised by her aunts Militza and Anastasia (the latter of whom was married to Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia). But it was another maternal aunt, Queen Elena of Italy, who introduced her to Prince Ioann.

Ioann was recently in Belgrade, where he received an "enthusiastic welcome" from the Serbian people, who are thrilled that the daughter of their king is to marry a member of the Russian Imperial family.