Because of his morganatic marriage, Grand Duke Michael would spend the rest of his life living in exile in England, France and Germany. His wife was granted the title of Countess de Torby by her uncle Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg. The couple initially lived in Wiesbaden, where Sophie's ancestors once reigned. Two of their three children were born there. In 1899, they settled more permanently in Cannes where they had a villa, named "Kazbek", after a mountain in Georgia. They lived comfortably: Five footmen, a butler, a valet, a lady's maid, a governess, a nursery maid and six chefs attended them. Michael afforded this lifestyle by being the owner of the factory near Borjomi (Georgia) that bottled mineral water. Grand Duke Michael was involved in the construction of the Russian church in Cannes and in laying the cornerstones for hotels and casinos in the area. He was an excellent golfer and hosted parties with his wife. They became prominent figures in the international set in the French Riviera, where the grand duke came to be known as the "Uncrowned King of Cannes".