a group of photographs of relating to prince felix felixovich yousoupov, circa 1940

Prince Felix Yussupov (1887-1967) married Grand Duchess Irina Alexandrovna, the niece of Nicholas II, daughter of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna and Alexander Mikhailovich. He participated in the murder of Rasputin on the 30th December 1916, after inviting him to his apartments at the Yussupov Palace on the Moika in St. Petersburg, first shooting and then beating the monk with a club as he lay in he snow outside the palace after the initial poisoning failed to kill him. Subsequently exiled, and briefly hailed an hero after the Revolution, he and Irina fled Russia in 1919, and it is reported that Felix was able to bring with him a number of valuables amongst which were two paintings by Rembrandt which were subsequently sold to the National Gallery in Washington, the proceeds of which enabling the couple to live comfortably in France. Felix died in Paris in 1967, and Irina three years later in 1970.

As a boy Felix had a predilection for dressing in his mother’s clothes and jewels to visit St. Petersburg’s restaurants and clubs. There are many tales of his adventures so dressed, one of which, told by Felix himself, has him catching the eye of King Edward VII who became determined to make his acquaintance.