Alix's letter the day after her twenty-first birthday to Queen Victoria, dated June 7, 1893

Source:

Alexandra Feodorovna: Diaries and Correspondence, volume 1: Princess of Hesse, 1872-1893, pages 297 to 298, by George Hawkins, 2023

The letter:

Kranichstein
June 7th 1893
My darling Grandmama,
Please accept my very warmest thanks for Your dear, kind letter full of good wishes and for the beautiful turquoises which will be most useful. It was really too good of You to give them to me. I received many nice presents and a quantity of beautiful roses.

I am glad that the 6th is past, as it brought too many recollections of happy bygone days with my beloved Papa still. How terribly I miss him, I think You well know darling Grandmama and on such a day more than ever.

We still have fine, warm weather, though these last days we had several thunderstorms.

I hear that Aunt Louise is going to Balmoral. I hope the change of air will do her good as I fear she has not yet got over the effects of the influenza she had in Italy.

We fish a good deal, which is quite an amusing occupation. I fear I must say Goodbye now as we are expecting a visitor to luncheon.
With received thanks and kissing Your dear Hand most tenderly, I am, Dearest Grandmama, Ever Your very loving, devoted, dutiful Child
Alix

Above: Alix. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.

Above: Queen Victoria.

Alix's letter to her aunt Princess Louise, dated May 26, 1893

Source:

Alexandra Feodorovna: Diaries and Correspondence, volume 1: Princess of Hesse, 1872-1893, pages 295 to 295, by George Hawkins, 2023

The letter:

Neues Palais
Darmstadt
May 26th 1893
My darling Auntie,
I have not had a word from you since we parted at Venice and I am most anxious to know how you got back and how you are feeling. Really, it was too bad your falling ill there and that we had to leave you too, but Ernie had to get back on account of the Krummann and then he went to Dresden and Vienna where he was beautifully received.

We have still no rain and the heat is tremendous — we drive out a good and sketch and I rode once. Next week we are all going to Kranichstein where I suppose we shall stop a month and then go to Wolfsgarten. I wish you could come for a bit. How too delightful those weeks in Italy were — now that we have once been there, one will always long to go again.

We went to Aunt Vicky the other day and found her looking very well. She showed us all over her house, wh is indeed getting beautiful. She has such lovely mantelpieces and other old things from Venice. Have you been able to finish the statue yet?
With very fondest love from Ernie and me, I remain Darling Auntie dear, ever yr deeply affectionate Niece
Alix

Many messages to Uncle Lorne from us both. Do telegraph a line how you are.

Above: Alix.

Above: Princess Louise.