After the death of Edward VII, Grand Duke Michael, pushed by his wife, tried in vain to obtain a British title for her. In 1912, George V wrote to Nicholas II about "that good fool Michael, who I am sure bores you with as many grievances as he does me." Nicholas had written to George to tell him that Grand Duke Michael had asked his permission for his wife to accept a British title and that he had given consent, subject of course to George's agreement. In his reply George pointed out "I have not the power to grant a title in England to a foreign subject and still more impossible in the case of a Russian Grand Duke." Gloomily accepting that the grand duke would be turning up to make a formal request for his wife's title, George added that "I do not look forward to our interview with any pleasure, as I fear I have no alternative but to refuse his request".