Letter to Alexandra from Tatiana, dated August 7, 1915

Source:

Скорбный Ангел (Sorrowful Angel) group on VK

https://vk.com/albums-28405715?z=photo-28405715_319308624%2Fphotos-28405715

The letter:

Ц. С. 1915
7 Августа.
Mama darling mine,
Please give Ania this photo of [illegible] I did at Krasnoe during the review. I'm sure she will be very pleased that he is here. Mama, sweet, I am so awfully sad. I see so little of you. I hate going away for so long. Really, we never see you now. It doesn't matter if sisters go earlier to bed — I'll remain. For me it is better to sleep less and see more of you, my beloved one. God bless you, deary, 1000 kisses to you and Papa dear.
Your own true loving child, Tatiana

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

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

Pre-restoration photos of the imperial bedroom

Source:

Greg Daubney on Facebook

Letter to Alexandra from Alexei, dated September 7, 1916

Sources:

Olga Grigor'eva at lastromanovs on VK

https://vk.com/lastromanovs?w=wall-56510987_28787

Letters and writings of Nicholas II and his family on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/108838347527221/photos/a.108851520859237/168580088219713/?type=3&__tn__=-R

The letter:

Могилев, 7 Сентября 1916..

Душка моя Мама.

Деревенька приедет в Ц. С. в отпуск. Вы его вы привезете. Сегодня Сич с ужасной скоростью сел на землю когда Жилик бежал за ним. Его ЗАДНЯЯ ЧАСТЬ треснула от взрыва "Бумммм".

Джой испугался. Ужасный ветер с утра. Страшно давлю Отма (О. Т. М. А. Мондрифилей) и целую. Учусь хорошо.

"Конец!". Храни вас Бог+!

Алексей.

English translation (from source 2):

Mogilev 7th September 1916
My darling Mama,
Derevenko is going to Ts. S. on vacation. You will bring him. Sig sat down on the ground at great speed when Zhilik was running after him today. His REAR END cracked with a "BOOOOMMMM" explosion. Joy got a fright. There was a terrible wind in the morning. Gently crush Otma (O.T.M.A. Mondrifilei) and kiss them. Studies are going well.
The end!
God bless you!
Alexei

Above: Alexandra and Alexei. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK

Letter to Alexandra from Alexei, dated September 29, 1916

Source:

Letters and writings of Nicholas II and his family on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/108838347527221/photos/a.108851520859237/168869474857441/?type=3&__tn__=-R

The letter:

Mogilev 29 September
My darling Mama,
The weather was changeable all day yesterday: it would rain and then it would clear up. Our walk along the Dnepr was nice. There was so much water in it that the banks were almost covered. There’s gale force wind today. There’s almost no leaves. Dark clouds are rolling across the sky, threatening terrible rain like last night. Every day Sig-sig goes for a dressing but the rest are all healthy. Tell Olga that we have here one young and handsome Romanian. It is time to finish. I am going to write to Siniy now. Papa has gone to his headquarters. Our quintet (P. V. P., Zh., Sig, Dim, N. P.) send big regards. May the Lord God protect you all.
Kisses
Your
A Romanov

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

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

Two entries from Alexandra's 1895 diary

Source:

Letters and writings of Nicholas II and his family on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/108838347527221/photos/a.108851520859237/169223991488656/?type=3&__tn__=-R

The diary entries:

Mittwoch den 30 August/11 September
Went for our usual walk and to Irina. Reichskauzler fürst Hohenhohe came to Nicky and I received him afterwards. At 3 drove to Babichon. Nicky walked and I drove round all the lakes and he shot 11 ducks. A lovely evening and beautiful moonshine. We drove together after dinner. Saw Irina in her bath at 7.

...

Donnerstag den 31 August/12 September
It rained in the morning but the weather was warm. Walked as usual and saw Baby Irina at the farm. Nicky sat a long time with me and read. Schneiderlein came for my lesson. To-day Xenia, Georgie and Sandro left Copenhagen on board the Polar Star for Libau – Abas Tuman. Darling Papa’s Birthday, received many kind telegrams. Alex Erbach’s Birthday. Yesterday they had a fire at Schönberg. Went to Irina at 7 as usual. Count Lamsdorff came in the morning. Schneiderlein came for an hour’s reading, – after tea.

Above: Alexandra. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.

1894 lithograph portrait of Alix in British newspaper "The Graphic"

Source:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1894-ANTIQUE-PRINT-PORTRAIT-PRINCESS-ALIX-OF-HESSE-/113807608866

Popular coronation print, year 1896

Source:

The Russian History Museum

http://www.russianhistorymuseum.org/coronation/

Souvenir cup in honour of Nicholas' and Alexandra's coronation, year 1896

Source:

The Russian History Museum

http://www.russianhistorymuseum.org/coronation/

Clothes hanger with Alexandra's initials

Source:

The Russian History Museum

http://www.russianhistorymuseum.org/last-days/

Alexandra's desk thermometer made by Fabergé

Source:

The Russian History Museum

http://www.russianhistorymuseum.org/last-days/

This desk thermometer was made by Fabergé and purchased by Alexandra in 1900.

20th wedding anniversary badge, year 1914

Source:

The Russian History Museum

http://www.russianhistorymuseum.org/last-days/

This badge was made in 1914 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Nicholas' and Alexandra's wedding.

Recreation of one of the tables from the Mauve Boudoir

Sources:

Tsarskoeselskaya Workshop and the Russian State Archive

Maple Room entresol fireplace details (photos taken in mid-May)

Source:

Anton Medvedev

Mauve Boudoir fireplace and tiles (photos taken in mid-May)

Source:

Anton Medvedev

Pallisander Room fireplace (photos taken in mid-May)

Source:

Anton Medvedev

Alix's diary entries from April 11 to 14, 1889

Source:

Transcripts (edited to fit the pages) and photos of scans of diary pages courtesy of GARF via Olga Grigor'eva at lastromanovs on VK.

https://vk.com/lastromanovs?w=wall-56510987_43705

The diary entries:

APRIL 11
Thursday
Breakfast at 9. Then I tried on, after wh. went for a run with Wilhelmine. Lessons. Luncheon at 2. Victoria, Louis & Baby left at 3 for Jugenheim. I went for a drive in the Mühlthal with Gretchen, picked catkins. Wrote to Vicky. Music. At 5½ Bäuerlein came to tea, & stayed till nearly 7. Then I sang with Gretchen tc. Supped at 8. Looked out trains for going to Wiesbaden. Drew, whilst W. worked, & Ed. + Gr. played 4 hands. — Bath & head washed.

To bed. —

Heard from Ella this morning.

--

APRIL 12
Friday
Vicky's Birthday.
Prf. Sell from 8 - 9½. — Breakfast. Wrote to A. Beatrice. — Then Ernie, Gretchen & myself off to Wiesbaden. — Rained, later cleared up. — Luncheon. Sat in; then walked, with the girls, Ernie & Miss Loch, along the Collonades & round about, then heard four pieces in the Cursaal.

Had Coffee in a Confectorei Laden. —

Darmstadt ab 11.5.
Frankfurt an 11.38.
                ab 12.
Wiesbaden an 1.9.

Left Wiesbaden at 6.20.
Frankfurt at 7.12.
                ab 7.20.
Darmst: an 8.12. —

Supped. Then Ernie went to Brauch[illegible], whilst Wilhelmine, Gretchen & I played whist. I lost both Rubbers. —

To-bed at 9½. —

--

APRIL 13
Darmst: Jugenheim
Wilhelmine to Auerbach.
Gretchen to Heidelberg.

Drawing lesson.

Ernie & I drove to Jugenheim for two nights.

Trotted about, picked flowers. Tea. tc.

Supper. Billiard. Bed.

I live in the Hinterhaus in Sandro's rooms, the one has been. enlarged, & Ernie next to me, aсcross the passage. —

A. Cambridge's Funeral. —

--

APRIL 14
Palm Sunday
Jugennheim
Ann & Beatrice & Christle's B.D.

Breakfast. Church.

Walked ~~~ Luncheon. Then Ernie drove Victoria, & Louis me, to Schönburg for tea. Edda sang, & quite nicely too. —

Supper. Billiards.

Bed. —

Above: Alix.

Note: Confectorei Laden = confectionery shop.

Hinterhaus = literally means "backhouse" or "the house behind".

Alix's diary entries from April 8 to 10, 1889

Source:

Transcripts (edited to fit the pages) and photos of scans of diary pages courtesy of GARF via Olga Grigor'eva at lastromanovs on VK.

https://vk.com/lastromanovs?w=wall-56510987_43666

The diary entries:

APRIL 8
Monday
After Breakfast went shopping with Victoria. — Lessons. Luncheon. Drove with Gretchen & Baby. Lessons. Tea. Went with Wilhelmine to the Victoriaschule 6½-½ to 9. —

Supper. To-bed past 10. —

--

APRIL 9
Tuesday
At 8 Pfr. Sell. Breakfast at 9. Walked with Wilhelmine. — Lessons. Luncheon at 2. Wrote to Grdmama. Went in the garden with dear Papa & the others. — Papa left at 3½ for England with Wern. —

Frl. v. Bechtold. — Tea.

Supper at 8. Games.

To bed at about 10½. —

--

APRIL 10
Wednesday
Breakfast at 9. — Walked with Gretchen. From 11¼-12½ Frl. Textor. Then French. — Luncheon at 2. Then drove in the Buchwald with Wilhelmine.

At 4½ Toni came for the reading and stayed till nearly 8. — Supper & then games. —

Papa arrived safely, after good passage at 12 a.m. in London, [illegible] so dark, that the lamps were lit. —

Above: Alix.

Alix's poem letter to Ernst on his birthday, dated November 13/25, 1888

Source:

The Correspondence of the Empress Alexandra of Russia with Ernst Ludwig and Eleonore, Grand Duke and Duchess of Hesse, 1878-1916, edited by Petra H. Kleinpenning, 2010

The poem letter:

I send you these lines
(with very bad rhymes)
To wish you much joy,
My own sweet old boy. —

May the new year
Into which you now tread,
Bring you good cheer
And roses all red. —

May God bless you on this day, —
Let the sky no more be grey,
From your brow all clouds depart
When you kiss your own sweetheart.

November 25th 1888
Alix

Above: Alix.

Above: Ernst.

Alix's letter to Ernst, dated September 26/October 8, 1888

Source:

The Correspondence of the Empress Alexandra of Russia with Ernst Ludwig and Eleonore, Grand Duke and Duchess of Hesse, 1878-1916, edited by Petra H. Kleinpenning, 2010

The letter:

My darling Ernie,
This is the last letter you will receive from me, from here [Balmoral], as I leave on Wednesday, Alex's Birthday. Please wish him many happy returns from Tebe and me. —

Our tableaux went off beautifully, and everyone seemed enchanted. The photographs have also been taken out and I trust that they will succeed. They were also all so sorry that you and dear Papa were not there to take part in it. This afternoon I drove with Grandmama to Loch Muich. It was quite dark when we came home before seven.

It is warmer to-day, but the snow is still lying. —

Tomorrow Albani is again going to sing here. —

Many 1000 kisses. With tender love, I am, Darling Boysy,
Ever your most loving and truely devoted Alix Alice Alicky Sunny Colrettchen Axeli

Above: Alix in the tableaux.

Above: Ernst.