Alix's letter to Queen Victoria, written during her first time in Russia for the occasion of Ella's wedding, dated June 18, 1884

Source:

Alexandra Feodorovna: Diaries and Correspondence, volume 1: Princess of Hesse, 1872-1893, page 14, by George Hawkins, 2023

The letter:

Peterhof
June 18th 1884
Dearest Grandmama,
I was delighted with the beautiful presents and with Your dear letter — for all of which many, many thanks.

Please forgive the delay in answering. I have been much with little Xenia and her brothers, and only come to our rooms at bed-time, so Miss Jackson hopes You will kindly excuse me not writing sooner.

It is very pretty here, and I enjoy myself very much. Ernie has gone this morning with the other cousins (who held the crown at the wedding) to see dear Ella and Serge, and they all come here to-night for a Dance "Souterie" at the Oldenburg's.

I hope You liked what Irène and I painted. I am sorry I was unable to do any nice work, but at Xmas I hope to be more successful.
With many kisses and much love to dear Auntie, I am
Dearest Grandmama, Your most loving and grateful Grand-child
Alix

Above: Alix with her sisters Irène, Victoria and Ella.

Above: Queen Victoria.

Alexandra's letter to Madgie Jackson, dated March 26, 1915

Source:

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

The letter:

ZARSKOE SELO,

March 26th, 1915.

MY DARLING MADGIE, — I hope this letter will reach you by Easter, it is to bring you my tender love and blessings. We feast it the same time this year, I am glad to say — I do hope there will be no fighting for a few days then, it would be hard.

There is so much to do, tho' I am lying since a week again — overtired my heart and strength — so despairing when one wants to be useful, not only with the brain.

We have cold sunny days, masses of snow. The fall of Peremishel [Przemyśl] was such a Godsend, as it kept so many of our troops occupied which will now be free to throw elsewhere. It is interesting to have that old Russian town back again. ...

All are busy sending off Easter parcels with linen, eggs, Koulitch (bread one specially bakes for Easter), tobacco, sweets, writing paper, candles, etc., and a little Image always for them to wear. I have several 100 of letters of thanks for our presents all these months.

Must end now.

A tender kiss fr. yr. loving old

P. Q. No. III

ALIX.

Ella is well — have not met since Dec.

Above: Alexandra.

Alexandra's letter to Madgie Jackson, dated January 8, 1915

Source:

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

The letter:

ZARSKOE SELO,

January 8th, 1915.

DARLING MADGIE, — I cannot tell you how deeply touched I was that you sent Ella and me those charming books and we thank you heartily, as also for your dear letter. We did not send you any present, not being sure with these abominable times whether a parcel would ever reach you. During your Xmas we were at Moscow — he [Nicholas] was away a month from here and the children and I two weeks. I visited hospitals in 8 towns with my big girls and in Moscow he joined us from the Caucasus and the 3 little ones from Zarskoe.

The result has been that my heart has been so bad again and such weakness — I utterly overtired myself. Nothing is more tiring than visiting heaps of hospitals and speaking by the hour to the poor wounded. So I have not been able to work in the hospital now, which is a great grief to me, as I love the work and find consolation in nursing the sick and binding up their wounds however terrible they may be. And we assist at operations and I always gave the instruments.

We have many hospitals at Zarskoe and now Xmas trees everywhere and the children go instead of us. He has also been in bed with a chill and cough — overtired, but now almost well again. The children are all right, thank God. Winter has been mild here in the North, but now severe cold has set in, but not much snow. Such a sad Xmas, one's thoughts are all at the war. Will send this off now and hope it will reach you safely.

Very tenderest blessings and kisses,

From your fondly loving

P. Q. No. III

ALIX.

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

Alexandra's letter to Madgie Jackson, dated August 19, 1912

Source:

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

The letter:

PETERHOF,

August 19, 1912.

DARLING MADGIE, — Loving thanks for yr last dear letter — forgive me for being such a shockingly bad correspondent. I had Victoria's visit for a week, wh. was delightful, and Ella came also for 3 days, and I shall see her again in Moscow. Ernie and family we had in the Crimea, Waldemar came for 3 days on the Standart in Finland, and Irene will come at the end of September to us in Poland, Spala. She was there before, and so we thought she would like to come again after 11 years. Next week we leave for Borodino and Moscow, terribly tiring festivities, don't know how I shall get through them. After Moscow in spring I was for a very long time quite done up — now I am, on the whole, better. What terrible rains and storms you have in England — such a calamity. Here we had colossal heat and scarcely ever a drop of rain.

If you know of any interesting historical books for girls, could you tell me, as I read to them and they have begun reading English for themselves. They read a great deal of French and the 2 youngest acted out of the Bourg. Gentilhomme and really so well, make Victoria tell you all about it. Four languages is a lot, but they need them absolutely, and this summer we had Germans and Swedes, and I made all 4 lunch and dine, as it is good practice for them.

I have begun painting flowers, as alas have had to leave singing and playing as too tiring.

Must end. Goodbye and God bless and keep you.

A tender kiss fr. Yr. fondly

Loving old P. Q. No. III,

ALIX.

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

Alexandra's letter to Madgie Jackson, dated May 31/June 13, 1911

Source:

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

The letter:

PETERHOF

May 31st/June 13th, 1911.

DARLING MADGIE, — Very tenderest thanks for your dear letter. We came over here on Saturday and hope to go to sea on Saturday. We long for that rest, my husband has been working like a ------ for 7 months and I have been ill nearly all the time. The quiet cosy life on board always does us good, so I hope to get a little better, so as not to be always lying. Ernie and his wife will be over for the Coronation. May all go off well, and the heat not be too intense; here it is quite cold since a week, and even frost by night. The children are growing up fast. In November Olga will be 16, Tatiana is almost her size 14 — Marie will be 12, Anastasia 10, Alexei 7. I send them to reviews with their Father, and once they went to a big military luncheon and made circle with the ladies, as I could not go — they must get accustomed to replace me, as I rarely can appear anywhere, and when I do, am afterwards long laid up — over-tired muscles of the heart.

Must end now. Good-bye — God bless you, darling. When do you go to Harrogate? Ella spent a week at Zarskoe with us, looked well, pink and cheery.

A tender kiss from your old

P. Q. No. III,

ALIX.

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

Note: In this letter Alexandra uses the n word. Although it is true that she was obviously a product of her time and society, there is no excuse. I have censored out the word, but I felt it should still be addressed, because not addressing the problem is the same as denying its existence; and although I am half black and the word is only seen as acceptable when black people themselves use it, I would rather not.

Alexandra's letter to Madgie Jackson, dated October 3, 1896

Source:

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

The letter:

BALMORAL CASTLE,

October 3rd, 96.

DEAREST MADGIE, — Just before leaving, I hasten to send you a few words of loving thanks for your dear letter. Not knowing your Eastbourne address, I send this epistle to London. Tho' I did not write to you for the 20th, my thoughts and best wishes were with you. I hope my Harrogate and the beautiful Yorkshire air did you good! Here we have not had the finest weather. My husband has not shot one stag, only a brace of grouse.

It has been such a very short stay and I leave dear kind Grandmama with a heavy heart. Who knows when we may meet again and where? Now I have made the acquaintance of Lord Pembroke about whom and whose sisters you used to tell me. He is charming and very good-looking. I have good news from Irene but, alas, we shall not see her.

We had a good passage from Denmark. Next Saturday morning, God grant, we shall be at dear Darmstadt. Goodbye, Darling, and God bless you.

Yr. old P. Q. No. III,

ALIX.

Above: Alexandra. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.

Above: Alexandra with Nicholas, baby Olga, Queen Victoria and the future King Edward VII at Balmoral Castle.

Excerpt of Alix's letter to Madgie Jackson, written in early spring 1893

Source:

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

The letter excerpt:

We have been favoured with the finest weather so that you can imagine how enjoyable all has been. It is like a dream, so different to anything one has ever seen. And how interesting the different style of painting to the Florentines. … The delightful sensation of being rowed in a gondola and the peace and quiet. We used to take our tea on some island or other. … What a dream of beauty Florence also. … That view from San Miniato is too exquisite. Now we have once been here, I fear that we shall always long to come again.

Above: Alix. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.

Alix's letter to Madgie Jackson, dated April 28, 1894

Alix wrote the following letter to her old governess Madgie Jackson about her engagement to Nicholas on April 28, 1894.

Source:

The Life and Tragedy of Alexandra Feodorovna by Baroness Sophie Buxhoeveden.

Chapter 4, Engagement, 1894

http://www.alexanderpalace.org/2006alix/chapter_IV.html

https://archive.org/details/lifetragedyofale00sofi/page/34

The letter:

PALAIS EDINBURG, COBURG,
April 28, 1894

DARLING MADGIE, — Most loving thanks for your dear letter, which touched me deeply. I am more happy than words can express; at last after these 5 sad years!

You must come and see me, as soon as you can. Next week I arrive at Windsor and then I can tell you all about the wedding, too, and our reception at Darmstadt, where we spent a night and a few hours in the day. The others are all in Church, to-morrow is their Easter.

It is pouring at the present moment, so a good occasion for answering all one's letters and I have not got few, as you can imagine.

With a tender kiss.

Ever your very loving,
P.Q. No. III,
ALIX.

Above: Nicholas and Alix on their engagement day.

Alix's letter to Madgie Jackson, dated June 3, 1893

Alix wrote this letter to her old governess Madgie Jackson on June 3, 1893.

Source:

The Life and Tragedy of Alexandra Feodorovna by Baroness Sophie Buxhoeveden.

Chapter 4, Engagement, 1894

http://www.alexanderpalace.org/2006alix/chapter_IV.html

https://archive.org/details/lifetragedyofale00sofi/page/30

The letter:

DARMSTADT,
June 3, 1893
DARLING MADGIE, — I send you my most loving thanks for your dear letter and the sweet little book. I ought not to have opened the packet till the 6th — but I could not resist the temptation, I enjoy the little books you send me always so much.

We have come into town for Ernie's audiences and I have been writing, trying on, eating cherries and picking flowers in the Herrengarten, which I have been arranging in the Schloss Kirche, as Toni von Homberg is going to be married to Pfarrer Erhardt there to-day, and the church looked so bare without any plants or flowers — now it looks quite friendly. It is still warm, sunny and bright. We have been rowing on the pond at Kranichstein and fishing. Frau von Westerveller and Marie von Biegeleben came out to us yesterday for a few hours, the visit of the Grand Duke of Baden went off very well last Tuesday. When the Saxons and Austrians come there will be more to do, and I dread it.

To-night we came in again for a large concert in the theatre, on account of the 25 (or 50) years' existence of the Mozartverein here, and the first time we go to the theatre again, I feel quite upset at the idea. Oh Madgie dear, if you only knew how too terribly I miss my own Darling* — it is too hard to believe that we shall never meet again in this world. But I must not make you sad. I am glad that you are going to Folkestone and so will be near Victoria.

A good long kiss.

Ever your very loving
P.Q. No. III*,
ALIX.

Don't you wish "The Old Man"* on a cherry tree? ...

Above: Alix, year 1892.

Notes: Alix's father had died in 1892, and she did not want to go to the theater even months after his death.

P.Q. No. III was an abbreviation of "Poppet Queen Number 3", which was Madgie's nickname for Alix.

"The Old Man" = a Mr. Gladstone.