Alix's letter to Queen Victoria, dated December 25, 1888

Source:

Alexandra Feodorovna: Diaries and Correspondence, volume 1: Princess of Hesse, 1872-1893, pages 36 to 37, by George Hawkins, 2023

The letter:

Darmstadt
Xmas Day
Dearest Grandmama,
I was delighted with all the lovely Presents and send You my most loving thanks for them.

I wore my fur this morning at Church and it looked very pretty.

It was so very kind of You, dear Grandmama to give me that nice Shakespeare, which I shall prize immensely.

Irène is looking well, and it makes Xmas all the merrier to have her with us.

Hoping that You have spent a pleasant Xmas, and that the New Year will be a very happy one to You and dear Aunty, I remain Dearest Grandmama, Your most grateful and loving Child
Alix

Above: Alix.

Above: Queen Victoria.

Alix's letter to Queen Victoria, dated March 29, 1888

Source:

Alexandra Feodorovna: Diaries and Correspondence, volume 1: Princess of Hesse, 1872-1893, pages 23 to 24, by George Hawkins, 2023

The letter:

Darmstadt
March 29th 1888
Dearest Grandmama,
I was quite enchanted with Your beautiful Presents and thank You for them many times. The Prayer Book will be a dear remembrance of the Day and I shall always value it very much. The Brooch is lovely and I shall wear it on great occasions.

We all missed You so much and wished You and dear Aunty had been here.

The weather is rainy now, but yesterday was lovely. We did not forget that the 28th was a sad anniversary for everyone that knew and loved dead Uncle Leopold.
With my tenderest thanks, I am,
Dearest Grandmama, Your most loving and grateful Child
Alix

Above: Alix.

Above: Queen Victoria with her page Arthur Ponsonby.

Alix's diary entry of December 3, 1888

Source:

George Hawkins at Letters and writings of Tsar Nicholas II and his family on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=467328888344830&id=108838347527221

The diary entry:

December 3 1888

Ella and I were photographed in our ballgowns. Saalbau Concert "Paradin and Père". Lovely.

Above: Alix and Ella.

Sir John Lavery's memory and description of Alix

Source:

The Life of a Painter, Sir John Lavery, 1940

https://archive.org/details/lifeofapainter000666mbp/page/n75/mode/2up?q=Alix

The memory:

Of all the royalties that I have painted the one that stands out is the Princess Alix of Hesse, late Empress of Russia, because of her great beauty. I had been given a large reception room in the Schloss for a studio. The first morning, I well remember, I woke with a blinding headache, a prevalent trouble of mine, usually meaning a day in bed. It was the morning that the Princess was to sit, and I forced myself to go to the studio where a huge coal fire at either end was banked up. There were large hairy rugs in front. It was most fortunate that I arrived early, I was no sooner there than one fireplace was in flames and then the other. I was alone, there was no means of calling servants, so I rushed about, finally getting help — the whole staff with all sorts of fire extinguishers. It was astonishing how quickly everything was put in order; half an hour afterwards, when the Princess came in, no one would have known that flames and volumes of smoke had filled the room so recently. Even the air had been reconditioned. The Grand Duke was so pleased with the little study I painted that he asked me to come back to Darmstadt to paint a life-sized portrait of his daughter before she became Czarina. I have often regretted that I did not do it. She hypnotized me by the strange sadness of her eyes, like one on the verge of insanity yet sane enough to realize it. I shall always remember the look almost of terror that came and went as I was painting her.

Above: The portrait of Alix.

Above: Sir John Lavery.

Alix's letter to Toni Becker, dated December 1888

Source:

Briefe der Zarin Alexandra von Russland an ihre Jugendfreundin Toni Becker-Bracht (2009), edited by Lotte Hoffmann-Kuhnt

The letter:

1888

Geliebte Toni,

Ich sende Dir meine kleine Weihnachtsgaben & Karte, mit den innigsten Glückwünschen zu diesem Weihnachten. Ich hoffe Du wirst das Armband immer tragen, & ich hoffe, dass das Hufeisen darauf Dir Glück bringen wird. Und frägt Dich eine, — wer gab Dir das? — So antworte nur eine Freundin. — Denke auch manchmal an mich, wenn Du in diesem Buch liest. —

aeta for ever

Meine Gedanken werden bei euch allen sein, das erste Mal, ohne euren geliebten Vater. — Es ist auch ein harter Schlag für uns alle gewesen, den teuren Onkel zu verlieren, — aber Gottes Will geschehe & nicht der unsere. —

Deine ewig treue Alix

Wir reisen am Sonntag Abend nach Kiel ab. —

English translation (my own; with original English in italics):

1888

Darling Toni,

I send you my little Christmas gifts & card, with most heartfelt congratulations for this Christmas. I hope you will always wear the Bracelet & I hope the Horseshoe on it will bring you luck. And if someone asks you "who gave you that?", then only answer a Friend. — Think of me sometimes when you read this book. —

aeta for ever

My thoughts will be with you all, for the first time, without your beloved Father. — It was also a hard blow for all of us to lose our dear Uncle, — but God's will be done & not ours. —

Your ever true Alix

We leave for Kiel on Sunday evening. —

Above: Alix. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.

Above: Toni Becker.

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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.

Alix's letter to Ernst, dated September 20/October 2, 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,
I send you these lines, whilst my hair is being done. — It is raining fast, and it is cold. — Sunday, and yesterday we had several times thick snow. —

Also yesterday we had our first rehursal, but of course it did not go very well, as all of the Gentlemen were not there. I think Rebecca will be quite charming, the grouping is so pretty, & also the Indians look so nice. —

You must excuse a short letter to-day, but I am always so buisy now, settling about the costumes, so that I can scarcely ever find a moment to myself. —

I heard from Tebe again the other day. She sends you, darling Ernie, many messages. The dear Cousins also. — They are all looking so well, Aunty too. —

With a tender kiss, I am, Ever yr most loving & truly devoted Alix.

Above: Alix.

Above: Ernst.

Alix's letter to Ernst, dated September 16/28, 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 Boy,
I am sitting in Minnie Cockrane's room, & I am roasting, as she has got a large fire. —

You bad fellow! Why do you never write to me? I do so much long for a line from you. I have not heard a word from you since you left.

How long are you going to stay at Jugenheim?

I heard from Tebe again the other day, & she sends you her best love. —

The Wales have arrived & look all so well, & are so merry as ever — they are so sorry that you & dear Papa are not here. I wish you were, what fun we might have. — The whole afternoon we have had fogg & rain, but it is not very cold. —

With a tender kiss, I am, Darling Ernie, ever your most loving Alix.

[P. S.] How is Alex?

Above: Alix.

Above: Ernst.

Alix's letter to Ernst, dated April 9/21, 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:

AETA

My darling Ernie
I am perfectly delighted to hear that you have passed your Examination so well, & ich gratuliere! I am sure it must have been a very trying time for you. Your Examination & poor Uncle Fritz so ill. —

Papa & Sandro are shooting Capercalies in Oberhessen & return only on Sunday. Yesterday morning Papa had already shot one. —

We are so happy to have Victoria, Louis & the Baby back again. Ludwig is not well yet, Victoria is thin, & Baby flourishing. You must hurry to come back soon.

I just heard the other day that L. v. Marquard's Engagement is abgebrochen. She seems to think that he did not take enough notice of her, but I know not if the latter is true. —

We have very warm weather. In the morning we usually go all in the garden & let the goats out. They jump about like made, — & eat out of our hands.

Irène & I have begun painting lessons with H. Schlegel (Dekorationsmaler).

In ten minutes we are going out driving, so Adio. With many tender kisses, I am, Darling old Boy, your ever loving & truely devoted Alix Alice Alicky Sunny Colretchen.

[P. S.] On last Sunday we went to the Martinskirche. Tebe & her sister were there. Then we saw the first in the theatre that night as also Pebe. I have not seen them since.

Above: Alix and Ernst.

Notes: ich gratuliere = I congratulate [you]

abgebrochen = broken off

Dekorationsmaler = decorative painter

adio = goodbye

Alix's letter to Ernst, dated August 15/27, 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,
I shall quickly send off a few lines, as I have a little spare time before taking tea, & driving with Grandmama.

I have been giving Daisy again a music lesson after luncheon & she played quite nicely.

Arthur is the same as ever, so inattentive when being drilled, — he is really, I think, going to get straps so as to hold himself straiter — it is high time, for I fear he will else never learn to do so. Pss. Frederique, is staying at Abergeldie Maines. I do not think her looking well, she is so pale, — she does not feel all right either. —

I heard from Maudy to-day, who is delighted to be at Gemunden, & with her dear Aunt & Cousins. —

Papa received a telegram from Ella yesterday, from Ilynskoe. —

Miss Jackson sends "Joseph" her best love, & hopes he is quite well.

I miss you so much, my dear old Boy. I hope you enjoyed your days at London. — I trust we may receive some news from you soon to hear what the passage was like. —

It is quite warm to-day, but there are constant showers.

Aunty & Miss Hood, Sir Fleetwood Edwards & myself played Lawn Tennis this morning. We two last ones won 3 sets. —

Papa has gone out shooting, & Aunty & Bäuerlein have driven to Braemar, to see Minnie Cochrane, her mother & sister. —

How is Victoria? I hope quite well & little Alice too. Have you good news from Alex? & how does he like living at Spandau? I suppose you have not seen Toni; if you ever do, please give her my tenderest love. — All here, inquire so much about you, & are very sorry that you have not come. —

Rosa Hood & her Father, Lord Bridport, are here & she & I get constantly nearly laughingfits after luncheon. I can not say a word, but giggle giggle off she goes. She is most amusing. —

But now I must say Goodbye. With a tender kiss, I am, my darling Ernie, Ever your most loving & devoted Alix.

[P. S.] The Indians & all are quite well. —

Do send me the Brustbild done of you & the Pretty Boy to-gether, as I should like it so much & if possible the one of you 3. —

Above: Alix and Ernst.

Note: Brustbild = bust

Balmoral Tableau-Vivants: "India", October 6, 1888

Sources:

https://www.rct.uk/collection/search#/8/collection/2980015/tableau-vivants-india

https://www.rct.uk/collection/search#/7/collection/2980016/balmoral-tableau-vivants-india

Balmoral Tableau-Vivants: "The Union", October 6, 1888

Source:

https://www.rct.uk/collection/search#/1/collection/2980012/balmoral-tableau-vivants-the-union

Balmoral Tableau-Vivants: "Harvest", October 5, 1888

Sources:

https://www.rct.uk/collection/search#/3/collection/2980001/balmoral-tableaux-vivants-harvest

https://www.rct.uk/collection/search#/2/collection/2980002/balmoral-tableaux-vivant-harvest

Balmoral Tableau-Vivants: "The Novice", October 5, 1888

Sources:

https://www.rct.uk/collection/search#/5/collection/2980005/balmoral-tableau-vivants-the-novice

https://www.rct.uk/collection/search#/4/collection/2980006/balmoral-tableau-vivants-the-novice

Alix's letter to Ernst, dated September 16, 1888

Alix wrote this letter to her brother Ernst on September 16, 1888.

Source:

mashkaromanova on Tumblr

https://mashkaromanova.tumblr.com/post/187753737875/princess-alix-of-hesse-and-by-rhine-1888-my

The letter:

My darling Ernie,
I have one or two minutes to myself, so hasten to send you a few words. What a pitty that you could not spend Papa's Birthday with him. How are you getting on at the Manoevres, & where abouts are you. I always send the letters to Darmstadt, for fear that they may miss you. Excuse my writing on coloured paper, but it is the only thin paper I possess. — You cannot think how buisy we are, painting the Scenery for our Tableaux — really they are getting very nice. I enjoy painting away with my large brush, & standing on a ladder. I cannot do it so very well, as I sprained a mussel in my side the other day, & it is painful, when I move to the right. I think I did it when playing Lawn Tennis. — Little Mr. MacGregor preached to-day, and very well indeed. — Eddy has had pretty luck out stalking.

Have you good news from the Pretty Boy? How long must he stay at Spandau? Will he be at Darmstadt for his Birthday? — To-day we have had a most beautiful warm day, & not a drop of rain. Aunt Helen & Abby came over for the service & stayed for Luncheon. — We had a charming drive this afternoon, & took tea at Bohman's Moss. Grandmama drove with Lady Churchill, & Eddy drove Aunty and me in one of the little wagonets with a pair of Liko's horses. I heard from Sophie this afternoon. She is having her Grecian lessons, with a man who tought Bernhard. I think she enjoys it very much, — but I fear it will be most difficult and troublesome. —

Do you hear sometimes from Herr von Schwartzkoppen, & how is he? Madge writes sometimes. She is still at Eastbourne. — But I must end for to-day, as Orchie has called me, to dress for Dinner. Liko comes on Tuesday. Eddy leaves on Thursday for York, where Uncle George is going to inspect the troops. Then he returns to Scotland with Aunt Alix, or before her. All here are quite well. Drino speaks very much, & is delightful. Goodnight! —

After all I am going to finish this letter to-night, as I may not find time to-morrow. — It is about 11½ and I am sleepy. — I have just been playing the Festungsspiel with Eddy, who did not know it; — & now my hair is being done. Grandmama heard from Irène to-day, who seems to be ver buizy arranging rooms for Aunt Vicky & the Cousins, who are going to Kiel the beginning of next month. — I hope the change will do Aunt good, & that she will brighten up a little in seing fresh people & being out of the Berlin circle.

You have never written to me yet, you bad boy, but I suppose you have little time to yourself, & that you use up in writing to Alex, quite right! But I should like a little line, only three words, as I have not heard anything about you since we parted at Glasgow, & you wrote your dear letter to Grandmama, from Buckingham Palace.

But now I must say Goodbye to you, as you will have a lot to do, & might wish old Alicky at Jericho, for writing such a long letter, with so little amusing in it. With a very loving & tender kiss, I remain, My own precious Ernie, Ever yr most loving and truly devoted Alix or Sunny.

[P. S.] Everyone is so sorry that you & Papa are not here, I among the others. I long to hug & kiss my 2 dear ones from the bottom of my heart. — Orchie sends a great big love to you.

Above: Alix. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.

Above: Ernest.