Alexandra's letter to Eleonore, dated December 27, 1913/January 9, 1914

Source:

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https://mashkaromanova.tumblr.com/post/190163677200/alexandra-feodorovna-with-her-daughters-and

Alexandra wrote this letter to her sister-in-law Eleonore on December 27, 1913/January 9, 1914.

The letter:

Dear Onor,
My tenderest thanks for your dear letter and the many beautiful Christmas presents you sent us. — I can just imagine how the children must have been beaming with joy around the Christmas tree, as they are still of an age to be enchanted by the lights. — Our most precious gift has been to see Alexei up and walking. Thank God one hardly notices he walks with a limp, he is very cheerful and has grown a lot. He also was at the Soldiers' Tree twice and was able to help out; and he enjoyed being able to stomp around in the snow. Marie has grown a lot, too, and she will soon be taller than Olga. —

Today there was a Christmas party at my nursery school and they distributed presents — tomorrow we will have the officers' tree. — In the Crimea I sent them to four hospitals, usually for lung patients, and they showed real interest, talking to everybody. — You asked who succeeded poor Dedioulin. — Nicky has just appointed General Voeikov. He was Commander of the Hussars here, was in the Chevalier Guards for many years, is a son-in-law of Frederiksz. — I think Nicky made a good choice, as he knows him very well.

Tatiana Konstantinovna wrote that they had breakfast on her balcony in the Crimea at Christmas — but here we have thick snow and 18° of frost. How are poor Thea and your other siblings? Give them my best wishes, won't you? The illness of little Emmy Ehrhardt is too sad — there's no hope any more — I am so very sorry for her parents. — Sister-in-law Olga visits us often and is like a sister to our children, and they are very attached to her. — Today Kostia came for breakfast, Miechen and Kiryll for tea and Dmitri for dinner. — Does Marietta meet your satisfaction, is she pleasant to have around the house? I only really knew her as a child as I have been away from home for 19 years now.

The rose picture you sent me as a present is just perfect and I only wish my children could have had tuition like the Coburg cousins. — What can I tell you? Sonia is cheerful as always, off to town to see the Youssoupovs all the time, and is happy in her new, large rooms. Alexei and Mr Gilliard are now living in her old ones. Count Benkendorf spent the whole of the autumn abroad because of his wife, and now she appears to be gradually losing her sight — the result of kidney disease like Kostia’s mother. —

Tatiana's hair has grown nice and thick, which means she no longer has to wear a wig; all four are very busy the whole time crocheting or embroidering, for which Tatiana and Marie have a particular talent.

But now I must end as I still have a lot of writing to do. May God protect you all, my dears. With fondest love I remain your loving sister Alix.

Above: Alexandra with her daughters.

Above: Alexandra with Alexei.

Above: Eleonore.