Alexandra's letter to Nicholas, dated October 3, 1915, and Nicholas's telegram, dated October 3, 1915

Sources:

Letters of the Tsaritsa to the Tsar, 1914-1916, published by Duckworth & Co., 1923

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=inu.30000011396573&view=1up&seq=237&skin=2021

https://www.alexanderpalace.org/letters/october15.html

The letter:

No. 132.
Tsarskoje Selo, Oct. 3-rd 1915
My own beloved Darling,
A gloriously bright, sunny day — 2 degr. of frost in the night. What a pitty, nothing is written in the papers about your having seen the troops — I hope it will appear to-morrow. It is necessary to print all such things without mentioning of course what troops you saw. — Am eagerly awaiting details how it all was.

So silly, in Moscou they want to give Samarin an address when he returns fr. the country — it seems that horror Vostokov has sent him a telegram in the name of his two "jlocks", Moscou & Kolomna — so the dear little Makari wrote to the Consistory to insist upon a copy of Vostokov's telegram to Samarin & to know what gave him the right to forward such a telegr. — how good, if the little Metropolitan can get rid of Vostokov, its high time, he does endless harm & its he who leads Samarin. Moscou is in a rotten state, but God grant nothing at all will be — but they need feeling yr. displeasure. — Sweetheart, me misses you very, very much, I want your kisses, I want to hear your dear voice & gaze into your eyes. —

Thanks ever so much for yr. telegram — well Baby must have been pleased that he was present at the review. How cosy yr. beds must be in the same room. And a nice drive too. — I always give over by telephone all you write to Vladimir Nikolaievitch.

This morning I went in to the little Boy — he is fast sinking & the quiet end may come this evening. — I spoke with his poor mother & she was so brave & understood all so rightly.

Then we worked in the hospital & Vladimir Nikolaievitch made an injection to the new officer — probably to-morrow will be the operation.

Pss. Gedroitz has 39 & feels so ill — eresypelis in the head one fears, so she begged Derevenko to replace her for serious operations. Nastinka lunched, then I received generals Prince Tumanov, Pavlov, Benkendorf, Isa. The inauguration of the Winter-Palace hospital can only be on the 10-th as the red cross has not brought the beds etc. yet — our part is done — so you see I better keep quiet after that ceremony (& Bekker no doubt) & the 11 & 12 — if so, then I would be at Moghilev 15-th morning at 9 if that suits you? Thats a Thursday, just 2 weeks fr. the day you left. You let me know. That means I am the 13-th at Tver, 14-th other places nearing you. — A lovely bright morn, its 10 minutes past 5 & becoming rather dark, we took tea after a drive to Pavlovsk, so cold — the little ones are trying on & the big ones have gone to clean the instruments in our hospital. At 6½ we go to the evening service in our new little Church. —

In the evening we see our Friend at Ania's to bid goodbye. He begs you very much to send a telegram to the King of Servia, as he is very anxious that Bulgaria will finish them off — so I enclose the paper again for you to use it for yr. telegram — the sense in yr. words & shorter of course reminding them of their Saints & so on. — Make Baby show you Peter Vassilievitch envelope, its sweet. I shall also address my letter separatly to him, he will feel prouder. Derevenko has got our presents for him & can arrange them in the bedroom before your dinner. — Wonder, how you will feast the Convoy.

Now I must end my letter, Sweetheart. God bless & protect you & the holy Virgin guard you from all harm. Every goodwish for our sweet Sunbeam's Namesday.

I kiss you without end & hold you tightly clasped to my old heart wh. yearns for you ever, Nicky sweet, yr. very own wify
Alix.

Nicholas's telegram:

Telegram. Stavka. 3 October, 1915.
Hearty thanks for dear letter sent by courier. Of course the Little One was present at yesterday's magnificent review and was very pleased. We arrived during the night, left the train at 10 in the morning, and have settled down quite cosily. Clear but cold. We went for a walk in the wood. Both embrace you closely.
NICKY.

Above: Nicholas and Alexandra with Alexei.

Notes: Madame Becker was a euphemism that Alexandra and her daughters used to refer to their menstrual periods.

Alexandra almost always referred to Grigori Rasputin as "our Friend".

Servia = the old name for Serbia.

Alexandra's letter to Countess Anastasia Hendrikova, dated October 11, 1916

Source:

Letters and writings of Nicholas II and his family on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=223282889416099&id=108838347527221

The letter:

Ts. Stavka. October 11

Dear little Nastenka,

Thank you very much for your letter yesterday. Our weather is dreary too — fog and rain all these days. All the same, we go for a drive in motor-cars after breakfast. We stop in the forest. Some go for a walk, while Alexei with his teachers and the Tsar's Cossack play robbers. I lie in the car on a pillow and rest. The chauffeurs and a sailor make a fire and bake potatoes for the whole company. The other day we had tea at G. D. Pavel's, and yesterday at G. D. Georgy Mikh's. It is a pity that you were not there. A change of scenery would be entertaining and beneficial to you. You are so alone. You could celebrate the memorial service daily. And the endless sorting of things is painful.

We return on Thursday evening. Each time it is a great sorrow for me to leave my dear ones — to be separated from them in such difficult times. It's very painful.

Keep your spirits up. God has made you happy with the uplifting spirit you are talking about. But this cannot be permanent. Look for peace of mind. Don't let external circumstances disturb you. I know that it is difficult, but sometimes it succeeds, and in this case you will feel close to your mother, and everything around you will cease to depress you. Poor, lonely girl. I'm so sorry for you. God bless you and help you and give you strength for the difficult, daily struggle. A gentle kiss from Alexandra.

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

Above: Countess Anastasia Hendrikova.

Alexandra's Easter letter to Anastasia Hendrikova, dated March 23, 1912

Source:

Letters and writings of Nicholas II and his family on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/108838347527221/photos/a.108851520859237/179080760502979/?type=3&__tn__=-R

The letter:

Livadia March 23.

Christ is Risen

Dear little Nastenka, my heart is overflowing with compassion and love for all of you. I cannot but write you a few lines. I dare not disturb your poor Mama; my prayers and thoughts are with her. It's terrible to think about everything you are experiencing. This is how I feel your grief, having experienced the horror of the loss of my beloved father. And such a sudden blow like yours.

But I always think that bright Easter prayers bring a lot of consolation to the soul, giving us the confidence that our real life is where our dear ones await us.

I cannot imagine how your life will now be arranged without your father, your advisor and leader, but Almighty God will not leave you; He will give you strength and courage to continue your life of self-denial with dignity and bless you completely for all your love.

Your poor sweet mother, kiss her tenderly for me. I am sending her a little Easter icon. I hope that she will remember the one whom we have loved so much for 17 years. We will never forget him. And for you and your sister — flowers collected by my children in the garden. Place a few of them in a vase near your Mama's bed. They smell so sweet in spring and speak of the Resurrection.

In this wonderful environment, the closeness of God is felt even more clearly. The birds sing, chanting to the Lord our God, and the flowers raise up their heads after their winter sleep, waking up to blossom and exalting their Creator. Everything in this world dies in order to wake up to eternal life on the other side — all paths lead us there — sooner or later. Goodbye my dear girl. God bless, protect and comfort you. I kiss you all with all tenderness.

Alexandra, who loves you.

Send me the last picture of your father. I will be very glad. And what will happen to your dear Mama, will she stay in Petersburg or go abroad, as she had supposed to do? It's hard to imagine how you will be able to cope on your own, but you are so brave. He always told me that. God will help you.

Above: Alexandra.

Above: Countess Anastasia Hendrikova.

Alexandra's letter to Countess Anastasia Hendrikova, year 1916

Source:

Photos of letter courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK

https://vk.com/lastromanovs?w=wall-56510987_27558

Alexandra wrote this letter to her lady-in-waiting Countess Anastasia Hendrikova on October 4, 1916.

The letter:

Могилевъ.
Oct. 4th 1916.

Darling Nastinka,
I must send you a few lines to show you that you are not forgotten in yr. loneliness. I fear you must feel it very much now. Write to me when the heart is very heavy, it may make you feel lighter & calmer. It will be nice if you go to see yr. brother at Псковъ — a good change.

If you only had the nice weather we have. [Illegible] with the window wide open day & night — bright sunshine. The first night was cold. — I have alas not yet seen my Boy, as he was not quite well, a chill in his inside or eaten something wh. disagreed, so the temp: had risen — but I hope he will come down to me to-day. — My heart was much enlarged yesterday — today a little less. — Just a month today that we left fr here. — [illegible] one day & get a good Airing, it will give you more strength for all the work you have got to do, & wh. always tires so much. — Keep up a brave spirit Darling, & remember you are not alone. — There is an old woman to whom your dear Mama confided you, & she will always do her best to try & make you happy. God bless you + [illegible] affecte Kiss
fr.
Alexandra

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

Above: Anastasia Hendrikova.