Anastasia de Torby

Lady Anastasia Mikhailovna Wernher ( Countess Anastasia Mikhailovna de Torby; 9 September 1892 – 7 December 1977), also known as Lady Zia Wernher, was a German-born Russian-British aristocrat and thoroughbred racehorse owner. She was the elder daughter of Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia by his morganatic wife, Countess Sophie Nikolaievna of Merenberg. She was the owner of Charlottown, winner of the 1966 Epsom Derby. Early life Born on 9 September 1892 in Wiesbaden, Countess Anastasia Mikhailovna de Torby, known as Zia, was the first child and elder daughter of Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia, a grandson of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, by his morganatic wife, Countess Sophie Nikolaievna of Merenberg. Her mother was herself the morganatic daughter of Prince Nikolaus Wilhelm of Nassau and Natalia Alexandrovna Pushkina, daughter of Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. Following her parents' elopement to San Remo in 1891 and consequent banishment from Russia, Sophie was made Countess de Torby by her uncle, Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Due to her unequal birth, Zia was unable to inherit her father's title or rank, but was able to inherit her mother's Luxembourgish comital title. She had two younger siblings; Nadejda, who married George Mountbatten, 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven, and Michael.