Vlad's Baltic glee in wake of royal visit

VLADIMIR ROMANOV today described his honour in welcoming Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh to Lithuania, admitting his heart swelled with pride as the monarch asked him about his footballing interests in Edinburgh.

Hearts' majority shareholder met the royal couple on their visit to Lithuania this week, part of a historic trip through the other former Soviet Baltic republics of Latvia and Estonia.

Romanov had been one of 50 favoured guests invited to a state banquet hosted by Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and First Lady Alma Adamkiene in Vilnius on Tuesday evening.

Dressed in his submariners' regalia, the Russian banker, who moved to Lithuania as a child with his parents and has lived there ever since, proudly spoke with the Queen about his revolution at Tynecastle and conceded even he was slightly in awe in the presence of Her Majesty.

"As we were introduced, the royal couple immediately noticed my submariners' insignia," said Romanov. "I had asked the British ambassador in advance if etiquette allowed me to wear it and he said yes.

"It was the badge I received from the West Lothian Submariners' Association giving me honorary membership. It was such a great honour for me to receive it and I wore it with great pride.

"Prince Philip asked me: 'So you are in Edinburgh?' And the Queen asked me: 'So which club are you? I said: 'Hearts, Your Majesty'.

"Ah yes, Hearts'," she smiled back. "It was a moment I will always remember," said Mr Romanov. "She is such an impressive person.

"There are presidents who come and go - and she has been there as head of state for such a long time and represents the monarchy system which stretches back so many centuries.

"It is a wonderful institution and gives a sense of real permanence which is something we have not had in Lithuania or Russia."

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh departed Lithuania yesterday destined for the Latvian capital of Riga, where she will continue her state visit of the Baltic states.

Taken from the Scotsman