Princess Zenaida Youssoupoff in her famous salon. As you can see from photographs, aside from personal touches, the room has survived largely intact.

Princess Zenaida Youssoupoff.(19 July 1891 - 24 November 1939).

Princess Zenaida Youssoupoff in costume for a ball in May 1888.

Portrait of Princess Zenaida Youssoupoff as a young girl by Jean Fouquet

Princess Zenaida Youssoupoff and Grand Duchess Xenia

Princess Zenaida Youssoupoff was much courted and admired in her youth. As her son, Felix, wrote, “She had numerous suitors from every country in Europe. But she refused all offers, even those of royalty, as she was determined to choose her own husband. My grandfather, who in his mind’s eye saw his daughter on a throne, lamented her lack of ambition. He was bitterly disappointed when he found that she had decided to marry Count Felix Sumarokov Elston, a mere officer in the Guards.”

According to family legend, it was Zenaida who made the first move and approached the handsome officer. Whether out of pride or shyness, Count Felix had originally admired Zenaida from a respectable distance. However, once she appeared to return his affections, the young man was suddenly armed with courage and went to Prince Nicholas to ask for her hand in marriage, saying, “I have only a modest fortune, but I don’t have a penny of debt!”

Zenaida’s father hesitated to grant permission for the marriage, not just for months, but for years! He had genuinely believed his daughter was destined for a grander match; however, she proved to be very much her father’s daughter. Just as the old Prince Youssoupoff had once refused to marry anyone but his choice, his daughter did the same.

The Prince came to terms with his daughter’s choice and gave his blessings. Finally, on April 4, 1882, 20-year-old Zenaida married her dashing groom, 25-year-old Count Felix Sumarokov-Elston. The ceremony was held in the private church inside the family’s Moika Palace. Zenaida would always remember not just her wedding anniversary with fondness but also her engagement.

On January 16, 1919, the anniversary of their engagement day, she wrote in her diary, “On this long-ago day, Felix gave me a bouquet of lilies of the valley, and every year on this day and hour, my dear bouquet appears, reminding me of the best day of my life.”

In the center, Grand Duke Alexander, Princess Zenaida Youssoupoff, Grand Duchess Xenia, and Prince Felix Youssoupoff. 1903.

As always, much love and thanks to https://vk.com/lastromanovs.

Princess Zenaida Youssoupoff

"Nikolai had been the jewel of his parent's eye. He graduated from the law faculty of St. Petersburg University, was a gifted writer (publishing under the pen name "Rokov"), an amateur actor, and founder of a comedy troupe. He had plans to join one of the elite guards regiments when he was killed in a duel in June 1908 at the age of twenty-five by Count Arvid Manteifel, after falling in love with the count's wife, Countess Marina Heiden. Zinaida was devasted and never fully recovered." -Douglas Smith, Rasputin: Faith, Power and the Twilight of the Romanovs

Princess Zenaida Youssoupoff with unknown woman

Princess Zenaida Youssoupoff and her husband, Count Felix Sumarokov-Elston with two unknowns

Princess Zenaida Youssoupoff

Group photo c. 1890

"Uncle Valerian was extremely shy. He had always been in love with my aunt Zeneide Youssoupoff, and had wanted to marry her. But he could never get up the courage to ask her. He was too timorous and unworldly to propose. Yet Aunt Zeneide was very fond of him, and my mother always said that Zeneide would have married him if he had asked her.

The funny thing was that Father, according to my mother (Princess Marie Obolensky, nee Narishkin), had also fallen in love with Zeneide before he began courting my mother. Then he discovered that his older brother Valerian was secretly interested in Zeneide, so Father retired and left the field to him. But as Valerian never mustered up enough courage to propose, Zeneide married General Youssoupoff, and Father married Mother, and Uncle Valerian never married anyone.”-Prince Serge Obolensky, One Man in His Time

"Since her great sorrow, caused by the untimely death of her eldest son, Count Nicholas Soumarokoff-Elston, the Princess Youssoupoff leads a retired life and never goes to parties. Count Nicholas Soumarokoff-Elston was killed in a duel by Count Manteuffel, an officer in the Horse Guards. The mere sight of an officer of this regiment is unbearable to the bereaved mother, and she has vowed that not one of them shall ever pass the threshold of her house." -Russian Court Memoirs, 1914-1916

Princess Zenaida Youssoupoff with her son Felix c.1907