Former premier Mikhail Gorbachev gave away his granddaughter Xenia Virganskaya Gorbachev in a glitzy wedding ceremony in the Russian capital this week. The 23-year-old student tied the knot with Kirill Solod, 21, the son of a naval officer from Severomorsk, in the country's far north. She and Kirill met at the University of International Relations – popular with the offspring of senior Russian politicians - where they are both studying public relations.
Dressed in an extravagant gown by popular Russian designer Valatin Yudashkin, the bride arrived at one of the capital's "Palaces of Weddings", as the register offices are known, on her grandfather's arm. Following the brief civil ceremony, the happy couple were whisked off in a Mercedes to a reception for 140 people in one of Moscow's oldest buildings, hired for the day by her doting grandfather. She and Mikhail enjoy a particularly close relationship, one which has led to perks far removed from the life of ordinary Russian citizens. At a debutantes ball in Paris last December, Xenia turned up in a £14,700 Christian Dior gown, and has spent vacations with both the Bush and Kohl families. The newlyweds plan to spend their honeymoon in Italy, where earlier this year Xenia modelled Bigotti dresses at a Milan fashion show.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Mikhail looked every inch the proud grandfather as he escorted 23-year-old Xenia, who wore a gown by popular Russion designer Valatin Yudashkin, into the Moscow register office
Photo: © AFP
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Xenia met her intended, Kirill Severomorsk, at Moscow's University of International Relations where they are both studying public relations Photo: © AFP
