Alexandra's letter to Xenia, dated April 4, 1902

Alexandra wrote this letter to her sister-in-law Xenia on April 4, 1902, telling her that she thinks she might be pregnant. This pregnancy turned out to be what is called a phantom pregnancy, where a woman will have symptoms of pregnancy despite not actually being pregnant.

Source:
A Lifelong Passion, letters and diary entries compiled by Andrei Maylunas and Sergei Mironenko

The letter:

Dear Chicken,
I shall ask Mama to bring you these lines. You are enjoying the lovely Crimea and we still have ice — but the sun warms already nicely. So it is true and you are sure about yourself, so now I must confess the same thing. I know by your looks you have been thinking it was so, but I on purpose did not tell you, so as that when others asked, you can honestly say that you did not know. Now it begins to be difficult to hide. Don't write to Motherdear, as I want to tell it to her when she returns next week. I feel so well, thank God; in August! — My broad waist all winter must have struck you.
Tender kisses from your old Hen.

Above: Alexandra.

Above: Xenia.

Above: Marie Feodorovna. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK.