The Duke of Leuchtenberg refused his permission because Meriel, although daughter of a distinguished ambassador and possessing royal blood herself, was not considered the social equal of Alexander and did not have a sizable fortune.

[3] Meriel’s parents realized the impossibility of the situation and were fearful of a diplomatic scandal.

[4] Meriel Buchanan had literary ambitions and published two novels based on her experiences living in Eastern Europe: White Witch (1913) and Tania.

[5] She then turned to non-fiction, writing a number of books about the Romanov family, the Russian nobility and her experiences living in Russia during the last years of the reign of Tsar Nicholas II, beginning with Petrograd, the city of trouble, 1914-1918, published in 1918.

In 1958, the year before her death, she published an account of her father's diplomatic career under the title Ambassador's Daughter.