“Standing upright and formal in her fur-trimmed hat and coat, she helped produce one of the best ‘mother-in-law-at-a-wedding’ poses in the line-up photo, standing looking wonderfully regal with one hand linked into her son’s arm as her new daughter-in-law peeked around her husband from the other side.

“The Grand Duke’s torso is turned towards his mother in a gesture of respect but Victoria has used their handclasp to pull his arm towards her own torso and has placed her other hand over the clasp in a gesture of bonding and loving ownership here.”

Twitter user CashSmart wrote: “I am watching the first Russian royal wedding in 100 years.

“The only person at the wedding who is smiling and happy is the bride.