Grand Duke Vladimir, said to have been one of Russia's most
          brilliant historians, held office both as Commander of the Imperial
          Guard and Commander of the St.Petersburg Garrison, effectively
          controlling the entire Russian Army. As such, he had enormous
          influence on his nephew, Tsar Nicholas II, who dreaded all his several
          uncles and was particularly terrified of Vladimir. In front of others,
          these uncles, including Vladimir, would accept the Tsar's opinions as
          orders; but once in private, they intimidated Nicholas II. Vladimir
          had a definite opinion on everything, ranging from politics to ballet.
             Their eldest son, Kyrill, offended the Tsar by marrying without the
          Tsar's permission. He married his first cousin, Victoria Melita of
          Saxe-Coburg, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, who had divorced the
          Grand Duke of Hessen, the only brother of the Tsarina. As Kyrill had
          married without the Tsar's permission, many regarded Kyrill's son,
          Vladimir, not to be a Grand Duke nor to be in line for the throne of
          Russia.
 

Source: Leo van de Pas