[4] Princess Yekaterina Pavlovna was born on 20 September 1849,[1] to Prince Pavel Petrovich Vyazemsky and his wife Maria Arkadyevna (née Stolypina).

Having received a good education, her father entered the service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he worked as part of Russia's diplomatic missions.

Having grown up, Yekaterina Pavlovna helped her father in creating the Society of Lovers of Ancient Writing, where she was head of the department of "textbook and individual sheets".

Yekaterina PAvlovna corresponded with many contemporary scientists, including professors from universities in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Kharkov, and members of government organisations in Kiev, Tula, Minsk, Crimea, and Odessa.

Her impeccably beautiful features, tall, dense, somewhat stooped figure and calm manner without any affection gave the impression of nobility and simplicity.

From conversations with Sukhareva, it was possible to understand that Yekaterina Pavlovna's role in the family was passive and that her will in most cases was suppressed by the stormy and despotic temper of her husband.

In December 1918 her husband died, afterwards, Yekaterina was forced to live with the family of her son Pavel, who was appointed head of the Ostafyevo museum and estate.