Alexandra's letter to Toni Becker, dated August 11/23, 1898

Source:

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

The letter:

Peterhof

Aug. 11/23. 1898

Meine theure Toni,

Ich sage Dir meinen innigsten Dank für Deinen lieben Brief; ich kann mir vorstellen wie glücklich Du sein musst im lieben Fürstenlager zu sein & dieses mit zwei süssen kleinen Knaben. Gewiss geniesst Deine gute Mama Deinen Besuch recht sehr — es muss ein Lichtstrahl sein, in ihrem jetzt so öden Leben. — Es ist unendlich traurig Dich in diesem Jahre wieder nicht zu sehen, & die Bekanntschaft Deiner Kleinen nicht machen zu können. Aber es ging leider nicht, & die bevorstehende Ruhe, so Gott will, wird uns beiden gut thun, denn wir haben es nöthig. Ewige Empfänge & Besuche greifen recht an. Freitag reisen wir nach Moskau, bleiben bis Mittwoch — dann geht es nach Sebastopol für 2 Tage (an Bord des Standart) & hierauf nach Livadia. Du wirst alles in den Zeitung lesen. — Die Mannöver waren sehr interessant, wir haben sie zu Pferd mitgemacht. Diesen Sommer haben wir fast täglich geritten & Lawn-Tennis gespielt. — Heute waren wir in Kronstadt & besichtigen 4 Schiffe, es war höchst interessant, wenngleich ermüdend. Es ist gleich Mitternacht, mein Mann hat noch zu lesen, dann nach einem Glas Thee gehts zu Bett.

Die Kinder reiten täglich auf ihrem Esel & lieben es sehr.

Nun lebe wohl, Toni mein, es küsst Dich innigst

Deine treuste Alte

English translation (my own):

Peterhof

Aug. 11/23. 1898

My dear Toni,

I thank you most sincerely for your dear letter; I can imagine how happy you must be to be in dear Fürstenlage & this with two sweet little boys. I am sure your good Mama enjoys your visit very much — it must be a ray of light in her now so dreary life. — It is infinitely sad not to see you again this year and not being able to make the acquaintance of your Little Ones. But unfortunately it didn't work, & the coming rest, God willing, will do us both good, as we need it. Eternal receptions & visits are quite effective. Friday we travel to Moscou, staying until Wednesday — then to Sebastopol for 2 days (on board the Standart) & then to Livadia. You will read everything in the newspaper. — The manoeuvres were very interesting, we did them on horseback. This summer we rode horses and played Lawn Tennis almost every day. — Today we were in Kronstadt & inspected 4 ships, it was extremely interesting, although tiring. It is almost midnight, my husband still has to read, then after a glass of tea we go to bed.

The Children ride on their donkey every day and love it very much.

Farewell, Toni mine, a hearty kiss

Your most faithful Alte

Above: Alexandra. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.

Above: Olga and Tatiana riding on a donkey.

Alexandra's telegram to Toni Becker, dated June 6, 1898

Source:

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

The telegram:

= innigsten dank, umarmend = alix +

English translation (my own):

= heartfelt thanks, embracing = alix +

Above: Alexandra. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.

Alexandra's postcard to Toni Becker, New Year 1898

Source:

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

The letter:

Meiner liebe Toni. Die innigsten Glück & Segenswüns[che] von Deiner treuen Freundin Alix 1897. 1898

English translation (my own):

My dear Toni. The heartiest wishes for happiness and blessings from your faithful friend Alix 1897. 1898

Above: Alexandra. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.

Alexandra's letter to Gretchen von Fabrice, dated July 28/August 9, 1898

Source:

Alix und Gretchen: Briefe der Zarin Alexandra Feodorowna an Freiin Margarethe v. Fabrice, aus den Jahren 1891-1914 (2002), published by Heinrich, Count of Spreti

The letter:

Geliebtes Gretchen,

Ihr Brief hat mir viel Freude bereitet, denn ich war ganz traurig geworden, so lange nichts von Ihnen zu hören. Seien Sie zu recht vorsichtig & übernehmen sie sich nicht, wenn sie den Dr. gesehen, so erzählen Sie mir doch was er von Ihnen denkt — Gott gebe nur Gutes & was Ihnen sonst grosse Freude bereiten wird. Meine Gedanken sind viel bei Ihnen, denn ich weiß ja wie unvernünftig Sie immer waren. Jetzt aber haben Sie nicht mehr dazu das Recht — Sie gehören sich nicht mehr selbst an. — Endlich hat mir Irene gute Nachrichten geben können, theure Juju ist ausser Lebensgefahr. Die Kur zu Nauheim war ihr sehr gut bekommen, & nun wurde sie plötzlich in Hemmelmark sterbenskrank. Sie hat eine Pflegerin & ihre Mutter bei sich. Bei Irene ist sie gut aufgehoben und bekommt jede Pflege & Fürsorge die nur denkbar ist. Ihr Herz war so schwach geworden & der Puls so unregelmässig, der Arzt hatte Angst vor einem Schlaganfall. — Gottlob ist die Gefahr nun vorüber, aber es wird sehr lange dauern bis sie sich erholt, die Kräfte sind so herunter. Ich habe Qualen ausgehalten — diese Ungewissheit, die grosse Entfernung, es war furchtbar. Armes Wesen, sie ist ja viel zu gut für uns alle, — ihr grosses liebewarmes Herz — und dieses Gottvertrauen. — Ihre Briefe sind eine Wonne, & sie helfen einem in schweren Stunden seine Pflicht zu erfüllen. — Gott weiß ob ich sie je wohl wieder sehen werde — diese Angst verspürte ich auch beim Abschied nehmen im vorigen Jahre — ihre Augen schauen in eine andere Welt. — Es ist nur gut, dass sie bei meiner Schwester ist, wo sie gut verpflegt & verwöhnt wird.

Seit einigen Tagen ist die Hitze hier sehr gross — ich habe mir auch heute das Reiten geschenkt. Mein Mann ist alleine fort & ich sitzte auf dem Balkon, auf der Loggia eigentlich — vor mir zu meinem Füssen liegt das Meer — tiefe Stille herrscht, & die Lilien duften rings um mich herum. Mein kleiner Dompfaff sitzt neben mir & die Papageien schwätzen im Garten. Die Kinder sind auf ihren Eseln fort geritten, die armen kleinen Würmer leiden recht unter der Hitze aber es geht ihnen Gott sei Dank gut. Tatjana läuft allein herum und Olga schwätzt viel. — Ich werde mich leider eine Woche von ihnen trennen müssen, denn wir werden auf Jlagin (Insel bei Petersburg) wohnen & jeden Tag zu den Manövern hinaus reiten. Ich freue mich darauf, denn bis jetzt bin ich hier noch immer zu den Manövern gefahren. — wir spielen täglich lawn-tennis & reiten.

Am 15/27ten August reisen wir nach Moskau, dort findet die Enthüllung des Monumentes Kaiser Alexander II statt. Es wird ein ermüdender Tag werden. Sortie, Kirche, Frühstück, Denkmal, Diner; — mir graut davor wenn es heiss ist. — Dann weiss ich nicht was wir noch ansehen. Eine Parade wird sein mit daran schliessendem grossen Frühstück — Abends bei Ella Ball. Den nächsten Tag, St. Serge & am Abend 19ten Abreise nach Sebastopol. Dort Flottenrevue, Parade, Besichtigung des Friedhofes für die im Kriege gefallenen u.s.w. — wir werden zwei Tage auf der 'Standart' wohnen & dann nach Livadia. Denken Sie an mich wenn ich hinkomme — ich werde Sie & Wernher vermissen. — Aber ich muss nun Addio sagen denn es kommt ein Herr zu mir rüber um über Arbeitshäuser zu berichten die er besichtigt hat. —

In treuer Liebe,

Ihre alte Freundin

Alix

God bless you, vergessen Sie nicht Minos' Geburtstag am 11ten or 13ten. I kiss you.

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

Darling Gretchen,

Your letter gave me a great pleasure as I was very sad not hearing from you for so long. Do right to be careful & do not overtire yourself if you have seen the Dr., tell me what he thinks of you — God only give good & otherwise give you great joy. My thoughts are with you a lot, as I know how unreasonable you have always been. But now you no longer have the right to do so — you no longer belong to yourself. — At last Irene was able to give me good news, dear Juju is out of danger. The cure at Nauheim was very well received, and now she haa suddenly fallen deathly ill in Hemmelmark. She has a nurse and her Mother with her. With Irene she is in good hands and receives every care imaginable. Her heart had become so weak & her pulse so irregular, the doctor feared a stroke. — Thank God the danger is over now, but it will take a long time until she recovers, her strength is so weak. I endured the agony — this uncertainty, the great distance, it was terrible. Poor creature, she is much too good for us all — her great, loving heart — and this trust in God. — Your letters are a delight & they help one to do one's duty in difficult hours. — God knows if I shall ever see her again — I felt this fear when I said goodbye last year — her eyes look into another world. — It is a good thing that she is with my sister, where she is well looked after and pampered.

The heat has been very great here for a few days — I also went for a ride today. My husband has gone alone & I am sitting on the balcony, actually on the loggia — the sea is before me at my feet — there is deep silence, & the lilies are fragrant all around me. My little Bullfinch is sitting next to me & the Parrots are chatting in the garden. The Children rode away on their donkeys, the poor little worms suffer from the heat, but thank God they are fine. Tatiana runs around alone and Olga chatters a lot. — Unfortunately I will have to part with them for a week, because we will stay on Ilagin (island near Petersburg) & ride out to the Manoeuvres every day. I am looking forward to it, because until now I have still driven to the manoeuvres here. — we play lawn-tennis & ride horses every day.

On August 15th/27th we travel to Moscow, where the unveiling of the Emperor Alexander II Monument will take place. It will be a tiring day. Outing, Church, breakfast, Memorial, dinner; — I dread it when it is hot. — Then I don't know what else we are looking at. There will be a parade followed by a big breakfast — in the evening a ball at Ella's. The next day, St. Serge & in the evening on the 19th departure to Sebastopol. There the fleet review, parade, visit to the cemetery for those who fell in the war, etc. — we shall stay on the 'Standart' for two days & then to Livadia. Think of me when I get there — I shall miss you & Wernher. — But now I must say Addio as a gentleman comes over to me to report on workhouses that he has visited. —

In true love

Your old Friend

Alix

God bless you, don't forget Mino's Birthday on the 11th or the 13th. I kiss you.

Above: Alexandra with Nicholas, Olga and Tatiana. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.

Note: Juju = Countess Julia von Rantzau.

Alexandra's telegram to Gretchen von Fabrice, dated March 15, 1898

Source:

Alix und Gretchen: Briefe der Zarin Alexandra Feodorowna an Freiin Margarethe v. Fabrice, aus den Jahren 1891-1914 (2002), published by Heinrich, Count of Spreti

The telegram:

In Gedanken mit Ihnen / sende innigste Glückwünsche zu diesem frohen ereignissvollen Tagen / meine Gebete begleiten Sie / may you be as happy as I am / der Kaiser gratuliert herzlich

Alix

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

In thoughts with you / send heartfelt congratulations on this happy and eventful day / my prayers accompany you / may you be as happy as I am / the Emperor congratulates you heartily

Alix

Above: Alexandra. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.

Alexandra's letter to Princess Maria Baryatinskaya, dated December 28, 1898

Source:

The Life and Tragedy of Alexandra Feodorovna by Baroness Sophie Buxhoeveden, 1928

The letter:

To have such a true and devoted friend is indeed a gift from God and I thank Him for it daily. ... Don't be anxious about me, I tell you openly all, so that you need not worry. I am careful, and rest all day and miss your dear company more than I can say. For your precious letter from the frontier a hearty kiss and many thanks. Your words of tender love did me much good.

Above: Alexandra. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.

Ledger of parcels sent by Alexandra from 1897 to 1905

Source:

https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/russian-works-of-art-faberg-icons-l18113/lot.429.html

Comprising 168 pages with printed headings 'To whom' and 'Signature' in Russian, the 713 individual entries inscribed in various hands in Russian, German, French and English, from 4 December 1897 to 22 December 1905, the first page inscribed in Russian 'From the wardrobe of Her Imperial Highness Empress Alexandra Feodorovna', leather wallet-style binding.

This newly discovered original document provides fresh insight into the life of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, her generous and thoughtful nature, and her shopping habits. It lists the parcels she sent, with dates and recipients, presumably recorded by her ladies-in-waiting. The whole of her and the Emperor’s extended families appear, including her brother and sisters and their spouses, first and second cousins, her grandmother Queen Victoria, and her wide circle of friends, many from her childhood. There are several entries of packages to retailers across Europe. The Empress was shopping on approval, returning things she did not wish to keep, and some things may have been sent for repairs. There are fourteen entries to Fabergé, half occurring in the autumn of 1900. Touchingly, she sent an annual package of goods to the hospital her late mother had founded, Princess Alice’s Hospital in Darmstadt, probably as part of a fundraising drive.
There was of course a flurry of sending gifts around Christmas time, and the dates of many of the entries correspond to the recipient’s birthday. For example, there are three parcels to Queen Victoria, listed simply as ‘The Queen’, on 4 May 1898, sent to Balmoral, 5 December 1898, Osborne, and 6 May 1899, Windsor Castle; Queen Victoria’s birthday was 24 May. (There is an entry for ‘Osborne’ on 18 December 1897, a parcel which was also presumably a Christmas gift to the Queen.) One of these parcels may have contained the jewelled rock crystal desk clock in the Royal Collection (RCIN 40100) which is known to have been a gift from the Empress to her grandmother.

Although only a handful of entries include mention of the contents, in some cases, the contents of the parcels can be surmised from surviving objects known to have been gifts from the Empress and with their dates recorded. The Fabergé gold cigarettes case with plique-à-jour enamel dragonflies (included in the 2016 Schloss Fasanerie exhibition and illustrated, ex. cat. Fabergé Geschenke der Zarenfamilie, Eichenzell, 2016, no. 58, p. 124) which she gave to her brother and which she had engraved ‘For darling Ernie from Nicky + Alix xmas 1900’ is listed in Fabergé’s invoice to the Imperial Cabinet with a purchase date of 30 November 1900. It was almost certainly in the package which she sent to her brother the following day, 1 December 1900. Her Christmas gift to her sister Victoria, Princess Louis of Battenberg, a Fabergé silver case inscribed in enamel ‘Alix/ Weihnachten/ 1904’ (illustrated, ibid., no. 3, p. 51), was certainly included in the parcel she sent to her on 7 December 1904, in a spree of postings on that day which also included parcels to her uncle and her husband’s aunt, Kind Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.     

In addition to Fabergé, other retailers listed include the jewellers Bolin and Butz in St Petersburg; Madame Brissac, the leading couturière in St Petersburg, who made the Empress’ gowns; several other St Petersburg shops including Weiss, Tehran, Zhidkov, Malm, Alexander, and the furrier Greenwald; the photographer Pazetti; Maison Spritzer in Vienna; Maison Morin-Blossier, Paris; Edwards & Sons, who made vanity cases and jewellery in London; the jewellers Koch in Frankfurt and Wondra in Darmstadt; Walter Thornhill, dressing cases, London; the firm of Sir Pryce Pryce Jones of Newton, North Wales, who sold flannel to Queen Victoria, who knighted him in 1887, and Royal households across Europe; the London milliner Robert Heath; Pavel Buré, watches, St Petersburg; a shoemaker called Vels; Grachev, silver, St Petersburg; the Avantso shop in Moscow; Swears & Wells, makers of hosiery and gloves in London; Romanes and Patterson, Edinburgh, for tartans and cashmere; Egerton Burnette of Wellington, Somerset, who produced clothes and other soft goods; and Green & Abbott, Oxford Street, London, for chintzes and Chinese wallpaper.

The last entry, on 22 December 1905, rather poignantly, given their relationship, was to her mother-in-law, always listed in the ledger with her full style and title, who was in Copenhagen to avoid the unrest in Russia — 1905 was ‘a year of nightmares’ for the Dowager Empress — and spent Christmas there. The date corresponds to that of a letter, which was certainly enclosed in the parcel, from her son, who writes, ‘All my prayers are with you for the forthcoming holidays. This is the second time that I have to spend Christmas without you.  The first time was when you were at home and we were away in India. Very sad not to have your Christmas tree again this year; it used to be so cosy upstairs at Gatchina during these holidays’ (E. Bing, ed., The Letters of Tsar Nicholas and Empress Marie, London, 1937, p. 205).

Alexandra's letter to Ernst, dated April 8/20, 1898

Source:

mashkaromanova on Tumblr

https://mashkaromanova.tumblr.com/post/615933528079761408/alexandra-feodorovna-1898-darling-ernie-dear

Alexandra wrote this letter to her brother Ernst on April 8/20, 1898.

The letter:

Darling Ernie dear,
Paul has offered to bring you these lines, I envy him so much seeing you in two days. He is looking forward to meeting you, as otherwise the prospect of Dresden does not amuse him greatly. My thoughts were so much with you both yesterday, & I pray that each time the 19th returns it may be the beginning of a happier year for you two, & the full realisation of your wishes in 94. To-day is our Engagement day — how long ago it seems & also as if it had been yesterday. My Nicky gave me Wondra's lovely bracelet — pearls & 2 rubies — beautiful. —

Since two days we have snow & rain & it is too dirty to walk. — Olga has not yet been out & she is very pale. — I hear A. Marie has gone to Cannes, & am so glad, as she can be with poor U. Alfred & look after Missy's doings. — On the 14/26th we are going to Zarskoe at last, & I think the change of air will do us all good. —

Now Goodbye, my beloved Ernie dear, I kiss you ever so tenderly & lovingly. Yr old
Sunny.

[P. S.] God bless & protect you & give you strength, health & happiness.

Above: Alexandra. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.

Above: Ernst.

Above: Alexandra with Nicholas.

Above: Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, Alexandra's sister-in-law.

Above: Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Alexandra's and Ernst's uncle.

Above: Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha, Prince Alfred's wife.

Above: Princess Marie (Missy) of Edinburgh, future Queen of Romania.

Alexandra's letter to Ernst, dated April 2/14, 1898

Alexandra wrote this letter to her brother Ernst on April 2/14, 1898.

Source:

mashkaromanova on Tumblr

https://mashkaromanova.tumblr.com/post/615394348751781888/crop-of-alexandra-sunny-feodorovna-1898-my

The letter:

My Ernie Darling,
Last night I received your precious letter, it was a delightful surprise to me, & I thank you for it very tenderly. It was a great comfort, receiving it just before confession, & the Holy Communion this morning. The Babies were so good. — I prayed earnestly for you both, that God might bless & comfort you, & bring you closer to-gether with strong, trusting love & devotion. May He give you strength & health, Ernie Darling. Be sure to do all the Drs tell you, no matter how tiresome it may be — your whole happiness depends upon it & with perseverance & patience & leading a regular, healthy life, all must come well in time. — I hope that the little trip to Italy benefited you, but you must be happy to get back to your sweet Wife and Child. —

Only since a few days I begin to write again, as one has to be so careful with one's eyes after the measles. I was very ill with one complication after the other, & I still have a pain in my side. Walked I have five times, & driven once in a shut carriage. The sun is bright but there is a cold wind, so I have to take care not to cough again. It is such a nuisance looking after oneself, but when one is married it is one's duty. The Reskys have been singing in Lent, I could only listen through the telephone. — Aunt Minny returns to-day from Copenhagen & Misha & Olga from Gatchina. — Poor U. Alfred must have been seriously ill, I trust he will recover quick, soon. — The Aunts have been to see him often & Grandmama too. —

Alas I hear from all sides that Missy is leading a strange life in the south, constant parties & expeditions with people out of a lower, unknown society, & that she dresses very loudly. All pitty & are sorry for her, so pretty, young & leading such a life, going to a ball, where decent people cannot be seen & dressing like certain odd women. — Poor little thing, I wish she had a more sensible & severe husband to prevent her foolishness. — It comes all from her bringing up — always the beauty, the painter & told in her face — whereas Ducky, who is a thousand times more handsome & clever & deep — she was out & never looked at. How can parents have favourites & when a girl is pretty & vain they ought not to tell it her. — The 15/27 we shall be at last returning to Zarskoe. —

I cannot write anymore now. I kiss you three ever so tenderly & remain yr deeply loving Sunny.

[P.S.] On the 19th our thoughts will be very much with you two & our tender prayers for great happiness.

Above: Alexandra.

Above: Ernst with his wife Princess Victoria Melita (Ducky).

Above: Princess Elisabeth, Ernst's daughter and Alexandra's niece.

Above: Marie Feodorovna (Minny), Alexandra's mother-in-law, with her youngest children, Xenia, Mikhail (Misha) and Olga.

Above: Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Alexandra's and Ernst's uncle.

Above: Queen Victoria, Alexandra's and Ernst's grandmother.

Above: Victoria Melita's sister, Princess Marie (Missy) of Edinburgh, future Queen of Romania.

Alexandra's evening dress, year circa 1898

Sources:

https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage/digital-collection/12.%20costumes%2C%20uniform%2C%20accessories/1246667/!ut/p/z1/jY_LDoIwEEV_BfZoC0JZNzURUawhPmo3piGATaQlFFz49VbjykR0dpOcO-cO4IABrsRN1qKXWomr3U8cnSnGyJ8RmFISzSGm-TbKyWYB_RAcXwD8MhgC_k9-BODj59NfAvtB0GUkqwFvRX-ZSFVpwPxg6hTa9ENTGs8ZlKx013iOKIrSGN3J0jyZECEU24r8Q7JcxVayixJKDyQg4RsYqdk2e3ZfJ1Bi130ApB2Ogg!!/dz/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/?lng=en

https://vk.com/album-4269989_180377989

https://vk.com/album-3643162_72617488

(photo courtesy of The State Hermitage Museum)

(photos courtesy of The House of Romanov (Dom Romanovih) on VK)

In the 1898 formals she wore the feather boa likely seen in this photo:

(photo courtesy of the Empress.Alexandra page on VK)

And in addition to other decorations she also wore the skirt from this dress:

The colour of the skirt would not have matched the colour of the rest of the other dress, but it didn't matter since the photos were sepia.

(photos courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr)