More on the Grand Duke George's bride

 

How they met (from the media kit).

"Grand Duke George and Victoria Romanovna (Rebecca) Bettarini have always had many friends in common and met several times as teenagers at European events. They met again years later at an event at the French Embassy in Brussels while both of them were working as lobbyists for foreign companies registered to the European Union.

Their personal relationship began when Grand Duke George asked Miss Bettarini to help him establish a new charitable initiative of the Russian Imperial House. Months later, their friendship developed into a long-lasting relationship. After living for six years in Brussels, the couple has decided to settle in Moscow, Russia, where they both work in the philanthropic sector."

Victoria Romanova was born in Rome on May 18, 1982.  She is the daughter of Ambassador Roberto Bettarini and Carla Virginia Cacciatore.

The couple became engaged in August during a private holiday. 

From the media kit:  "The ring is of a type traditionally exchanged by brides and grooms in the House of Romanoff.

The ring’s style of setting, in which cabochon rubies, sapphires, garnets, amethyst, diamonds or emeralds are invisibly set into a burnished gold band, became popular in the late 19th century.

In the past, these rings were given as friendship or engagement bands, and were worn both by men and women. They were quite fashionable in the late Victorian era, particularly because of the popularity of using gemstones to indicate certain values, traits, and feelings; all stones were ascribed with symbolic meanings. 

Members of the Romanoff Dynasty have always worn rings of this type, particularly in the Vladimir branch, which became the senior line of the dynasty after 1917 (see the attached photos). The rings worn by members of the Russian Imperial Family often had diamonds, sapphires, and rubies, reflecting Russia’s national colours – white, blue, and red.

When he was 18 years old, H.I.H. The Grand Duke George of Russia was given this ring by his mother, the Head of the Imperial House of Russia, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia. It was to be used as an engagement ring that he would one day give to his future fiancée.

The ring centers a ruby cabochon gemstone that represents love and nobility, and two diamond brilliants that represent purity and strength.

In August 2020, Grand Duke George of Russia presented the ring to Miss Rebecca Bettarini in August 2020 during a private holiday."

all photos courtesy of Grand Duke George and Victoria Romanova