Alexandra Anastasia, Duchess of Abercorn is a direct descendant of Emperor Nicholay I and Alexander Pushkin, promotes Russian culture worldwide. September, 2014 she started her work as an Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. She was recently awarded Pushkin Medal by President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin for outstanding contribution to study and preservation of cultural heritage, convergence and cultures’ mutual enrichment of nations.
The ceremony of awarding the Honorary Doctor of the University is a very colorful performance, and Academician Dmitry Likhachev participated in the creation of the script.
Alexandra Anastasia, Duchess of Abercorn went on the stage, accompanied by the Rector of the University Alexander Zapesotsky and other Honorary Doctors of SPbUHSS: Nobel Laureate Zhores Alferov, Honorary Citizens of St. Petersburg, the famous Russian writer Daniil Granin and the legendary sportsman Michael Bobrov.
The Rector gave a speech about the Honorary Doctor, in which he told about Duchess’s extensive foreign activity in preservation and development of the historical and cultural Russian heritage and announced the decision of the Academic Council. Students solemnly carried to the stage mantle, cap, diploma and flowers. With the sounds of the anthem "Gaudeamus" Rector put the mantle on the Honorary Doctor of the University.
Honored guests of the ceremony – Mr. Vladimir Zapevalov, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia in St. Petersburg, Prof. Sergey Nekrasov, Director of Russian Museum, Doctor of Cultural Studies, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation; Ms. Olga Taratynova, Director General of "Tsarskoye Selo", the State Museum-Preserve; Ms. Zoya Chalova, Director of Mayakovski Central City Public Library, Honored Worker of Culture of Russia, and others congratulated Duchess of Abercorn.
Duchess of Abercorn gave a speech in reply. She told that she highly appreciates the honor bestowed on him.
The ceremony ended in the lobby of the Academic Council conference room with the opening of memorial board with the name of the Honorary Doctor.

Honorary Doctor institution was established in the University in 1993 for students could get a decent life guidance, examples of service to the ideals of the University. Among the Honorary Doctors of the university are Dmitry Likhachev, Zhores Alferov, Natalya Bekhtereva, Andrei Voznesensky, Daniil Granin, Eldar Ryazanov, Mstislav Rostropovich, Yuri Temirkanov, Boris Eifman, Irina Rodnina, Prince Michael of Kent and other famous contemporaries.