Tatiana's letter to Xenia, dated March 25, 1908

Source:

Olga Grigor'eva at lastromanovs on VK

https://vk.com/lastromanovs?w=wall-56510987_37053

The letter:

25-го Марта 1908. Ц. С.

Дорогая Тетя Ксения!

От всей души поздравляем Тебя с днем твоего Рождения. Прости, что раньше не писала, я совсем забыла, что сегодня твой праздник. Надеюсь, что Вам всем очень весело и что Вы скоро вернетесь. Как твое здоровье?

Сегодня Мама взяла нас всех 5 на парад. Было очень хорошо. Тетя Ольга и дядя Мими тоже были на параде. Эту бумагу мне подарили Мама и Папа. Очень хочу Тебя и всех видеть. Мы были очень довольны, что Дядя Ernie и Тетя Onor были здесь. Но к сожалению они не могли привести своего ребенка.

Я пишу в игральной на моем письменном столе. У нас эти дни теплая погода стоит. Скоро пойду к Мама и буду там пить чай. Вчера в 11 часов вечера дядя Ernie и тетя уехали в Москву и приедут обратно с Тетей Ellой и Марией и Дмитрием. Крепко Вас всех целую.

Твоя всегда любящая твоя крестница

Татьяна.

Поцелуй М. В.

English translation (my own):

March 25, 1908. T[sarskoe] S[elo].

Dear Aunt Xenia!

We sincerely congratulate You on your Birthday. Forgive me for not writing before, I completely forgot that today is your holiday. I hope You are all having a lot of fun and will be back soon. How is your health?

Today Mama took us all 5 to the parade. It was very good. Aunt Olga and Uncle Mimi were also at the parade. This paper was presented to me by Mama and Papa. I really want to see You and everyone. We were very pleased that Uncle Ernie and Aunt Onor were here. But unfortunately they could not bring their baby.

I write in the playroom on my desk. We have warm weather these days. Soon I'll go to Mama and drink tea there. Yesterday at 11 p.m. Uncle Ernie and Aunt left for Moscow and will come back with Aunt Ella and Maria and Dmitri. I kiss You all tightly.

Your always loving goddaughter

Tatiana.

Kiss M. V.

Above: Alexandra.

Above: Tatiana.

Above: Xenia.

Alice Hancock's letter to Alexandra asking to borrow Alexei for a while, dated February 2, 1908

Source:

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

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=385760916501628&id=108838347527221

The letter:

12/02/08

Rockfort

Tulse Hill SW

London

Her Imperial Majesty The Czarina

Gracious Madame,

It was with the utmost horror I read that an attempt was to be made upon the life of the Czarewitch. I implore your Majesty to let me have his Imperial Highness to take care of for a time. My husband is a City wine merchant — we live in every comfort in our own house and have a large garden. My daughter is an amiable, merry girl, very fond of children, and he would have a happy life as a little gentleman. He should have every comfort and attention and I should only be too proud of having preserved his precious life. I nearly danced with joy when the news became known that Your Majesties were blessed with a son and heir to the throne.

Perhaps it would please Your Majesty to come here in search of health and change — it is a lovely spot and a peaceful visit might work wonders.

I trust your Majesty will pardon the frankness of my letter. I am very much in earnest and would gladly do anything in my power to avert a catastrophe.

With the greatest respect I have the honour to be Your Majesty's most obedient servant,

Alice Hancock

Above: Alexandra and Alexei.

Letter to Alexandra from Olga, dated January 1908, and Alexandra's reply, dated January 15, 1908

Source:

Letters and writings of Nicholas II and his family on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/108838347527221/photos/a.108851520859237/179383717139350/?type=3&__tn__=-R

The letter:

My beloved and always darling Mama!

I am awfully sad too not see You. How do You feel? How is Your tempriture? Today I feel well, only the Doctor told me not to get up till he comes. I beg Your pardon that I right like an old boot. When You'll talk by telephon with Big Baby tell her that I kiss her very tenderly and that I'll right to her. I want to see You so very much my beloved, dearest, darling Mama. Now came Doctor Simanovsky and lookd at my throught. I was playing with Sofia Ivanovna cards. Did Doctor Botkin come to You to day?

How is Auntie Ella? I hope she is better. Will Papa come to me? I hope so. I am lying in Mary's room on the sopha. Now came Madelaine to me, and she talks with Shura. Anastasia root to me a very long letter, did You see her? I hope to get up to see You quiqley. Mama dear I "kiss ye quikly." Please right to me a letter. Mama do You remember Ladvinsky how he was talking and screaming? I’ll send You with this letter Ania's letter. My tempriture is 36.6.

Dont You now when will Auntie Irène come here? Tatiana and Maria have lessons, Rushin and Inglish now they have preparation. Behind me is a pot with lilacs. It smels very good.

Good bye. God bless You my beloved Mama. A big kiss I send You my dear angel Mama.

Your always loving daugter

Olga

Alexandra's reply:

Jan. 15th 1908

Ts. S.

My darling Olga dear,

A big kiss and loving thanks for yr. dear letter. Truly written like a boot with very many buttons off but still very dear to old Mama's heart. Thank God that you have nothing serious the matter with you and the Dr will be sure to let you get up after he has been. Very good news fr. A. Ella yesterday and A. Irène who kisses you and is greatly looking forward to coming here later on. A. Minny and U. George lunch with Papa and then I shall have to see them. My cover is growing rapidly and I hope to begin the border to-night already. I sent up yr. work thinking you might like to get on with it, if S. I. reads to you, give her my love and say that I hope her cousin is better, hope to see her S. I. to-morrow at last. Don't make grimaces nor talk like that horrible boy F. A spoke by telephone to cousin 2 yesterday — is day Duty Officer. Good-bye for now little girly. A big kiss fr. yr. old Mama

Bless you +

"Eyes" were very happy to speak to you both. Thought had payed a visit to us all. Botkin came and pricked my leg.

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

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

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News report on Alexandra in Næstved Tidende, Sydsjællands Folkeblad, dated June 20, 1908

Source:

Published in Næstved Tidende, Sydsjællands Folkeblad in Næstved in South Zealand, Denmark on June 20, 1908

http://www2.statsbiblioteket.dk/mediestream/avis/record/doms_aviser_page%3Auuid%3A95568932-8df7-49a2-8f5f-11eb2c858857/query/kejserinde%20Alexandra%20Rusland/page/doms_aviser_page%3Auuid%3A48db9a5c-5b32-44c4-a8ff-5d475fbdb763

The report:

Kejserinden af Rusland skal være bleven meget betænkelig syg, saa at det kun var med megen Besvær, hun deltog i Mødet ud for Reval. Hvormeget der ligger i denne Meddelelse er ikke foreløbigt konstateret, men i hvert Fald saa Kejserinden svag og lidende ud, da hun overværede Mødet. Kejserinde Alexandra er født den 6. Juni 1872 som Prinsesse af Hessen. Den 26. November 1894 blev hun gift med den nuværende Czar af Rusland.

English translation (my own):

The Empress of Russia is supposed to have been very worryingly ill, so that it was only with much difficulty that she attended the meeting next to Reval. How much is contained in this communication has not yet been ascertained, but in any case the Empress looked weak and suffering when she attended the meeting. Empress Alexandra was born on June 6, 1872 as Princess of Hesse. On November 26, 1894, she married the present Tsar of Russia.

Alexandra on a bridge in the Alexander Park, then and now

Source:

Photos courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK

https://vk.com/lastromanovs?w=wall-56510987_49779

Alexandra Feodorovna on the bridge over the Obvodny Canal, Tsarskoye Selo, spring 1908 vs February 23, 2020.

(photos courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK)

My colourisation of Alexandra in a forest, year circa 1908

The Hawaiian Star on Alexandra's mental health, year 1908

Source:

The Hawaiian Star, published in Honolulu, Oahu on February 19, 1908

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82015415/1908-02-19/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1894&sort=relevance&rows=20&words=Czarina+CZARINA&searchType=basic&sequence=0&index=16&state=&date2=1918&proxtext=Czarina&y=14&x=13&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=2

The article:

CZARINA MENTALLY AFFECTED

ST. PETERSBURG, FEB. 8. — Despite the efforts that are made to prevent the publication of alarmist reports concerning the Czarina's real condition, sad news filters through to the people from court circles. Both mental and physical ills are believed to be afflicting Her Majesty, who is described as "the wreck of her former self."

Although the official statement is made that the Czarina's real malady is a stubborn attack of influenza, following a weakening attempt at "banting," the popular explanation is that the Czarina is in a state of great nervous depression. She has lost all interest in the outside world and has ceased to take any pride in her personal appearance.

The Czarina refuses to move from St. Petersburg, in obedience to the strong advice of her medical attendants. The court physicians are extremely disquieted by her obstinacy, for they realize that something must be done to get her away from the depressing atmosphere of the court to some sunny retreat in the South.

Both the Czar and Czarina have largely abandoned the freedom of movement in which they formerly indulged, disregarding to a great extent the police precautions for their safety. The Czar frequently rode out from Tsarskoe Selo beyond the protection zone, chatted with peasants by the road side, and so on. Similarly the Czarina delighted to escape from official supervision occasionally and to go out shopping like an ordinary woman. But in her present low state of health and spirits she has given up these outings. In their place the Czarina takes a mild interest in physical matters and has attended the seances at court promoted by the Grand Duchess Melissa, wife of the Czar's cousin, the Grand Duke Peter Nicolaievitch.

Letter to Alexandra from Olga, year 1908

Sources:

Olga Grigoryeva at lastromanovs on VK

https://vk.com/lastromanovs?w=wall-56510987_24839

A Lifelong Passion, letters and diary entries compiled by Andrei Maylunas and Sergei Mironenko

13 year old Olga wrote this letter to her mother on December 4, 1908. Legible despite spelling errors and broken English. Olga and her sisters were more used to Russian and were never very good with English, but they always put in the effort.

The letter:

Ц. С. Четверг 1908 г. 4го Декабря

With all my heart I thank You sweetest Mama dear for Your dear little note and kiss You tenderly for it and will never through it away from me. I will trie to so do what You wrote to me in the little note. So sorry that never see You alone Mama dear, can not talk so should trie to write to You what could of course better say, but what is to be done if there is no time, and neight[er] can I hear the dear words which sweet Mama could tell me. Good-bye

God-bless You.

Kisses from Your very own devoted

daughter

Olga

Maylunas' and Mironenko's transcript of the letter:

With all my heart I thank you sweetest Mama dear for your dear little note and kiss you tenderly for it and will never through it away from me. I will trie to do what you wrote to me in the little note. So sorry that never see you alone Mama dear, can not talk so should trie to write to you what could of course better say, but what is to be done if there is no time, and neighter can I hear the dear words which sweet Mama could tell me. Good-bye.

God bless you. Kisses from your very own devoted daughter

Olga

Above: Alexandra.

Above: Olga.