 Grand Duke Kirill's uncle, Tsar Alexander III, died on and Kirill's cousin, Nicholas II, became the new Tsar.During the coronation festivities in Moscow, Kirill fell in love with his paternal first cousin,
Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.They flirted with each other at the balls and celebrations, but Victoria Melita was already married to Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse, the only brother of Tsarina Alexandra.