Editing Natalia Brasova (section)

==Third marriage==
[[File:Knebworth W front.JPG|thumb|right|alt=Large house in Tudor Gothic style|Knebworth House]]
Just as they had done for the previous two years, in summer 1912, Michael and Natalia holidayed in Western Europe. After shaking off agents of Nicholas II's secret police, the [[Okhrana]], Michael and Natalia married in [[Vienna]] on 16 October 1912 in a [[Serbian Orthodox Church]].<ref>Crawford and Crawford, pp. 125–126</ref> They had successfully planned the wedding without either Nicholas II's or the Okhrana's knowledge.<ref>Crawford and Crawford, pp. 126–128</ref> On their eventual arrival in [[Cannes]], after a few days travelling through [[Venice]] and [[Milan]], Natalia's two children joined them from Russia.<ref>Crawford and Crawford, p. 128</ref> The Grand Duke wrote to his brother, the Tsar, to inform him of the marriage, but because Natalia was divorced and not of royal blood the Tsar refused to approve it.<ref>Crawford and Crawford, pp. 129–131</ref> Michael was perceived by the court as being "under the hypnotic influence of a malicious vamp".<ref>Memorandum in the State Archive of the Russian Federation, 601/1301 f. 175–6, quoted in Crawford and Crawford, p. 133</ref> Nicholas II said Natalia was "such a cunning, wicked beast that it's disgusting even to talk about her".<ref>Letter from Nicholas II to Empress Marie, 21 November 1912, quoted in Crawford and Crawford, p. 133</ref> Michael was removed from the imperial succession, his property was put under [[Sequestration (law)|sequestration]] and exiled from Russia in disgrace. Though members of society felt some sympathy for Michael, thinking his punishment severe, there was little sympathy for Natalia.<ref>Crawford and Crawford, p. 137</ref> Despite marrying a Grand Duke, she was not entitled to be known as "Grand Duchess", and instead used the style "Madame" or "Countess Brasova".<ref>Crawford and Crawford, pp. 151–152, 410 (note 17), and 213</ref>

Until September 1913, they stayed in hotels throughout Europe, without any decrease in their standard of living. They met Michael's sister [[Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia|Grand Duchess Xenia]] and cousin [[Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich of Russia|Grand Duke Andrew]],<ref>Crawford and Crawford, pp. 138–145</ref> and in July 1913, they saw Michael's mother in London who told Natalia "a few home truths" according to Xenia's diary.<ref>Quoted in Crawford and Crawford, p. 146</ref> From September 1913, they leased an [[English country house]], [[Knebworth House|Knebworth]], {{convert|20|mi}} north of London.<ref>Crawford and Crawford, pp. 148–149</ref> Natalia acted as hostess for any of their guests, which included her friend Chaliapin, the [[Ballets Russes]], and the artist [[Serge Sudeikin]].<ref>Crawford and Crawford, p. 154</ref> As a divorcée, however, Natalia was often excluded from invitations to social events elsewhere; the divorced were not received at court and could not enter the [[Royal Ascot|Royal Enclosure at Ascot]].<ref>Crawford and Crawford, p. 155</ref>