Pictured for the first time: Putin's mystery daughter - the medical student whose penthouse overlooks the US embassy in Moscow 

  • Putin's eldest daughter pictured for the first time, claims Russian magazine
  • Maria, 30, is believed to also have a daughter - making Putin a grandfather
  • Her friends include a 'gay fitness coach from London' and a 'lesbian artist'
  • Revealed that she is also a 'fan' of the comedy TV programme Little Britain
  • See the latest Vladimir Putin updates at www.dailymail.co.uk/putin 

By Will Stewart In Moscow for MailOnline

Published: 09:19 EST, 3 February 2016 | Updated: 12:36 EST, 3 February 2016

Dressed as a '19th century European burgheress', this is Vladimir Putin's 'secret' eldest daughter, a medical student who has has a penthouse overlooking the US embassy in Moscow.

Blonde Maria, 30, has been reliably pictured for the first time since her father came to power more than a decade and a half ago, claimed a Russian magazine.

The Kremlin today refused to comment on the claim but did not deny the report in The New Times which, if true, follow's last year's outing of Maria's younger sister Ekaterina.

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Mystery woman: Putin's eldest daughter Maria, 30, has been pictured for the first time since her father came to power more than 15 years ago, according to Russian media. She is pictured here dressed as a '19th century European burgheress' at a costume party in Holland in 2008

Mystery woman: Putin's eldest daughter Maria, 30, has been pictured for the first time since her father came to power more than 15 years ago, according to Russian media. She is pictured here dressed as a '19th century European burgheress' at a costume party in Holland in 2008

Enigma: Among Maria's wide circle of friends is a 'gay fitness coach from London' and a 'lesbian artist', according to Russian magazine New Times. She is pictured on holiday with two friends in Italy in June 2010

Enigma: Among Maria's wide circle of friends is a 'gay fitness coach from London' and a 'lesbian artist', according to Russian magazine New Times. She is pictured on holiday with two friends in Italy in June 2010

Among the claims is that Maria has a daughter with her Dutch husband - making Putin a grandfather.

Another is that she has a wide circle of international friends including a 'gay fitness coach from London'.

Putin's 'Orthodox patriots' would be 'speechless at seeing a lesbian artist among Maria's friends'.

She is also a 'fan' of Little Britain starring David Walliams and Matt Lucas which, New Times tells its readers, shows 'gays enjoying themselves'.

A favourite book of Maria is also revealed to be 'Memoirs of a Geisha' by Arthur Golden.

The woman claimed to be Maria shows a striking resemblance to Putin and his ex-wife Lyudmila, who was last week claimed to have taken a new 'toy boy' husband.

Maria - known to her friends as Masha Vorontseva - enjoys a high-flying life as a Moscow University medical student culminating in the award of a PhD - completing her post-graduate research into dwarfism - and is the wife of Dutch businessman Jorrit Faassen, 36, it was claimed. 

Education: The blonde woman believed to be Maria (pictured in Moscow in 2011) studied medicine at Moscow University, culminating in the award of a PhD - completing her post-graduate research into dwarfism

Education: The blonde woman believed to be Maria (pictured in Moscow in 2011) studied medicine at Moscow University, culminating in the award of a PhD - completing her post-graduate research into dwarfism

High-flying: She is also claimed to have sailed around the Mediterranean Sea in the luxury mega-yacht Aria (pictured), visiting Monte Carlo, Italy, France and Spain

High-flying: She is also claimed to have sailed around the Mediterranean Sea in the luxury mega-yacht Aria (pictured), visiting Monte Carlo, Italy, France and Spain

The woman bears a striking resemblance to her alleged father, the Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured)
The woman bears a striking resemblance to her alleged father, the Russian President Vladimir Putin. She is believed to be married to Dutch businessman Jorrit Faassen (pictured), 36, with a daughter of her own

Family: The woman bears a striking resemblance to her alleged father, the Russian President Vladimir Putin (left). She is believed to be married to Dutch businessman Jorrit Faassen (right), 36, with a daughter of her own

'Student Masha with her friends made a cruise around Mediterranean Sea visiting Monte Carlo, Italy, France and Spain in luxury mega-yacht Aria,' stated New Times. 

'We see the same blonde woman dancing at the carnival in costume in the beer bar in Maastricht town in Holland.

'She was dressed as a 19th century European burgheress - and her friend made his costume from an American flag.'

She lives in Moscow in a heavily-guarded elite Soviet-era block on Novinsky Boulevard that was once the home of Stalin's henchmen shot during the dictator's purges.

The couple are also believed to own property in Holland.

Her supervisor at the Endocrinologic Scientific Centre of the Russian Health Ministry, Ivan Dedov, has gone on to be elected unopposed as president of the Russian Medical Academy of Science. 

Elite: Maria is believed to live in Moscow in a heavily-guarded Soviet-era block on Novinsky Boulevard - once the home of Stalin's henchmen shot during the dictator's purges. Pictured in the Netherlands in 2008

Elite: Maria is believed to live in Moscow in a heavily-guarded Soviet-era block on Novinsky Boulevard - once the home of Stalin's henchmen shot during the dictator's purges. Pictured in the Netherlands in 2008

Exotic: The mystery woman is pictured here taking a class in Japanese dancing in Tokyo, in 2009. She and her husband are also believed to own a property in Holland

Exotic: The mystery woman is pictured here taking a class in Japanese dancing in Tokyo, in 2009. She and her husband are also believed to own a property in Holland

Out and about: The Kremlin has refused to comment on the claim but did not deny the report which, if true, follow's last year's outing of Maria's younger sister Ekaterina. Pictured, Maria at a friend's party in 2013

Out and about: The Kremlin has refused to comment on the claim but did not deny the report which, if true, follow's last year's outing of Maria's younger sister Ekaterina. Pictured, Maria at a friend's party in 2013

Dedov's son Dmitry also fared well, becoming Russia's judge at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasburg. 

Meanwhile, huge state investment was made into the Children's Endocrinology Institute.

Last year it was revealed that Maria's sister is known as Ekaterina Tikhonova - now 29 - and was put in charge of a £1.1billion expansion of Moscow State University, the country's most famous higher education institution.

She was also shown to be a keen Acrobatic Rock 'n' Roll dancer.

Footage has emerged of her enthusiastically high-kicking on the dance floor with male partner Ivan Klimov. 

For years Putin's children have remained off limits for the Russian media. 

Extravagant: The claim about Maria follows a Russian journalist's allegation last year that Ekaterina Tikhonova (pictured), 29, is Vladimir Putin's youngest daughter

Extravagant: The claim about Maria follows a Russian journalist's allegation last year that Ekaterina Tikhonova (pictured), 29, is Vladimir Putin's youngest daughter

Keen dancer: It has been claimed that Tikhonova - whose identity, like her sister's, has always been shrouded in secrecy - is the vice president of the world confederation of Acrobatic Rock 'n' Roll

Keen dancer: It has been claimed that Tikhonova - whose identity, like her sister's, has always been shrouded in secrecy - is the vice president of the world confederation of Acrobatic Rock 'n' Roll

Successful: Putin has previously said that both his daughters are making 'good progress' in their careers, and both speak three European languages fluently

Successful: Putin has previously said that both his daughters are making 'good progress' in their careers, and both speak three European languages fluently

His daughters' faces were never shown apart from in historic images from their childhood. 

The Kremlin said on Monday: 'We traditionally do not comment on any issues and any reports alleging that these reports have relation to the president's family.'

Putin has said previously of his daughters: 'They are taking the first steps in their careers, but are making good progress. They are not involved in business or politics.

'They have never been "star" children, they have never got pleasure from the spotlight being directed on them. They just live their own lives.

'They live in Russia...They have never been educated anywhere except Russia.

'I am proud of them, they continue to study and are working. My daughters speak three European languages fluently.'

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