Alix's letter to Ernst, dated August 11/23, 1887

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,
We have just returned from a delightful expedition. We two, Vicky, Sophie, Mossy, Mlle de Perpignon, Ethel Cadogan & two Officers of the Victoria & Albert went on the Helena. We had Consequences, & then tea & shrimps cake &c. One of the Officers buttered & cut the bread, & Mademoiselle poured out the tea. We were very merry. Irène & one Officer, as well as Mossy, stuffed themselves with shrimps &c, & then some sketched.

Then the three Cousins, one Officer & Maudy went in one boat, & we four in an other, horrid little thing. Of course they got on much faster, having 4 oars & we only three, & besides Irène & Ethel were not very skilful & we had nothing for stearing; I tried to with a logg of wood, but it did not succeed, & we remained far behind. So we let ourselves be towed by the steam launch, only my feet got so horribly wet, that we got in the steam launch, & went close to the Victoria & Albert, where we waited till the others came. We just were going on board, when began a discussion, if we should go, or not, and it ended in our getting into the steamlaunch again, & towing the others. Near the shore, we got in their boat & went as far as possible in the sand, but could not get very far, so in to the water jumped the two Officers, with their lovely creamish white trousers, & carried some on crossed hands across, & 2 sailors came up, from the other boat & carried also some, but not very comfortably, as one nearly fell slipping, but they said one was safe. —

But now Adio, with hearty kiss, Ever yr own loving Sister Alix.

Above: Alix.

Above: Ernst.

Note: Adio = goodbye

Celebrations and luncheon for Alexandra's name day, April 23, 1897

Source:

http://www.alexanderpalace.org/palace/tsartable2.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_day

https://orthodoxlife.org/lives-of-saints/romanovs-1917-alexandra-empress/

https://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints?contentid=2447

A name day is a celebration in some Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox countries in Europe and Latin America. It celebrates the day of the year associated with a person's given name; the celebration is similar to that of a birthday. Alexandra's name day was April 23. April 23 is the feast day of Saint George the Great Martyr and Trophy Bearer, and of Saint Alexandra the Martyr Empress (although it appears that her feast day is April 21, at least in the Greek Orthodox Church). Upon her conversion to Russian Orthodoxy and her reception into the Church, Alexandra took the latter as her patron saint and took her feast day as her name day. The following is a description of the celebrations of Alexandra's name day in 1897, as well as the menu of the luncheon for that day.

The celebrations:

At 9.25 a.m. the choir of the Finnish Singing Society "Lieder-Taffel" sang below the windows of Alexandra Fyodorovna's apartment; they were succeeded by the musicians of the Court's Choir which sang up to 9:40 A.M.

At 11 a.m. the Divine Liturgy was celebrated.

At 12.25 the Imperial Luncheon began. The table was laid for 30 persons (28 persons were present).

In the Portrait Hall there was a table with hors d'oeuvres.

In the Semi-Circular Hall there were 3 round tables (each laid for 10 persons). In the middle of each table there were baskets with fresh flowers given as gifts and 4 silver bowls with sweets, sponge-cakes, fruit and fresh strawberries. The table was laid with crown silver cutlery, the dessert outfit had an ordinary gilding, china of Tsarskoe Selo with grapes and dessert plates of the same sort, cut crystal glasses of Tsarskoe Selo.

The luncheon menu:

Wines:
Madeira No. 3
Rudesheimer Berg-Rizling of 1884
Leoville of 1874
Champagne Monopole Sec

The main courses:
Asparagus Cream Soup
Tarts
Gatchina Trout a Americain
Mutton Chops
Young Pouliards
Fillet of Duck Meat Brigorad
Fresh Peas
Cold Peaches

At the end of the Imperial Luncheon coffee and chocolate were served in the balcony in Gorbievsk cups of Tsarskoye Selo.

Above: Alexandra. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.

Above: The Semi-Circular Hall in the Alexander Palace, where the luncheon was held.