Alix's letter to Xenia, dated September 3, 1893

Source:

Alexandra Feodorovna: Diaries and Correspondence, volume 1: Princess of Hesse, 1872-1893, pages 301 to 302, by George Hawkins, 2023

The letter:

Sept 3rd 1893
Душка Ксеніи,
I suppose that you will be in Denmark by this time, amusing yourself with all the Cousins. I envy them being able to see you, whilst I have to content myself with a photograph. I am sending you one done of me last year, some think it like, some horrid. Ernie is still not able to walk, but he goes for drives, or he's wheeled about in his bath chair in the garden.

The Cousins have gone to play lawn-tennis and have been abusing me for writing, so I shall have to join them soon and you must be content with a short epistle.

After great heat, we have now cold, damp weather. Yesterday we went to Homburg to pay Aunt Vicky a visite, and saw Uncle Bertie and Anastasie. I hope the manœuvres were amusing in Russia. We are going on the 14th to ours at Friedberg and intend to ride out to them. Here the roads are lovely, and I ride usually at 7 and come in for breakfast.

If a group is done of you all at Fredensborg, I wonder whether you would send me one; I should like it so much. What fun you must be having there, all to-gether.

Do give your Geschwister my love, and Toria and Maud. Do you play still a great deal? We have been having lots of music, as a Violin player, a Herr Wolff (a Dutchman) whom we often heard in England, stayed with us for 8 days. I used to accompany him and it was a great delight, though at first most frightening.

But now I must be off, otherwise the others will grumble.
A good fond kiss,
Ever, sweet Chicken dear, yr very loving old
Alix

God bless you! Send me a line if you have a spare moment, do please.

Above: Alix.

Above: Xenia.

Notes: "Душка Ксеніи" = "Darling Xenia".

Geschwister = siblings.