Alexandra's letter to Nicholas, dated October 5, 1915, and Nicholas's telegram, dated October 5, 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=240&skin=2021

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

The letter:

No. 134.
Tsarskoje Selo, 5-th Oct. 1915
My own Sweetheart,
Once more many happy returns of this dear day — God bless our precious Child in health & happiness. I am so glad that one at last printed that you had seen troop and what you said — otherwise none out at the front would be any the wiser, as before. — And every bit of your movements to the troops, when known, will yet more raise their spirits & all will hope for the same luck. —

Glorious, sunny, cold morning.

We went to Church at 10, then I changed & we worked at the hospital till 10 m. to 2. After luncheon I drove with the girls.

Miechen came to tea, was nice & cosy, is so delighted that Plotho has been set free — now he gets transported to Siberia, but its quite different. — She goes with her train now, Ducky returned with a terrible cough — so she wishes to go, as its not far nor long — well, lets hope no bombs will be thrown upon it. — We have just returned fr. a funeral service in the new Church — the little boy in the big palace died peacefully this night & in Maria's & Anastasia's hospital one died too — so both coffins stood there — I am so glad we have got that little Church there. — I received still several officers & feel now mighty tired, so excuse a short letter. — Lili Den was very handsome yesterday evening & dear.

How sweet that you say prayers with Baby, he wrote it to me, the treasure — his letters are delightful. — I am so grateful, that you told Grigorovitch to send me every evening the papers — I eagerly read & then return them after having sealed them myself. — Sweetheart, beloved Treasure, I wish I had wings so as to fly over to you & see how you both sleep in wee bedybys — & would love to tuck you up & cover you both with kisses — very "not necessary". —
Ever, my Treasure, yr. very own, tenderly loving old
Wify.

God bless & protect you.

At night 2 & 3 degr. of frost, nevertheless I sleep with the little window open. — Its so empty — miss you both terribly.

How does Paul get on?

You may like to read Putiatin's letter, so I send it to you. —

Nicholas's telegram:

Telegram. Stavka. 5 October, 1915.
Thanks for good wishes. To-day in church we were in prayer with you and the girls. Yesterday evening I gave him your presents. He was delighted, especially with the big knife, which he took with him to bed. He is very cheerful, and is ready to take part in everything. It would be better if you arrived a few days later, as you wrote. Both kiss you tenderly and fondly.
NICKY.

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

Above: Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia and Alexei.

Above: Lili Dehn.

Alix's letter to Xenia, dated April 30, 1894

Source:

Alexandra Feodorovna: Diaries and Correspondence, volume 1: Princess of Hesse, 1872-1893, pages 327 to 328, by George Hawkins, 2023

The letter:

April 30th 1894
My darling little Xenia,
I send you my most tender thanks for the sweet little egg and lovely little brooch. I was deeply touched at yr having thought of me. The others are all in Church and I am sitting alone, so use the opportunity for writing to my Chicken.

Alas! only two days and then we part, I feel miserable at the idea — but what can't be cured must be endured. You are to be envied seeing Sandro every day, and I shall not see my Nicky for over a month.

I cannot describe my happiness O it is too great and I can only thank God on my knees for having guided me thus. And what an angel the dear Boy is, how glad you will be to have him back again. You will write to me some times, won't you, if Sandro is not the whole day with you. Give him my love.

We went for a drive yesterday in the rain, but not to the Rosenau, to-day I have no doubt we shall go there. I am going to spend a night at Darmstadt on my way to England so shall see the young couple again — they look so happy and content, but it does seem too funny Ernie being married.

It is so damp to-day that I have had to have a fire made.
Now enough for to-day. With many a loving kiss I remain
Ever yr very loving old Hen
Alix

Above: Alix.

Above: Xenia.

Alix's and Nicholas's telegram to Marie Feodorovna, dated April 24, 1894

Source:

Alexandra Feodorovna: Diaries and Correspondence, volume 1: Princess of Hesse, 1872-1893, page 322, by George Hawkins, 2023

The telegram:

Telegram
24 April 1894
Returned yesterday evening from Darmstadt, spent charming day with Ducky, Ernie, lovely summer weather. Could not feel happier. Of course give Your letter. We both send our tender love,
Alix Nicky

Above: Nicholas and Alix.

Above: Marie Feodorovna.

Alix's letter to Xenia, dated April 10, 1894

Source:

Alexandra Feodorovna: Diaries and Correspondence, volume 1: Princess of Hesse, 1872-1893, pages 316 to 317, by George Hawkins, 2023

The letter:

April 10th 1894
Душка Ксеніи,
A tender kiss and best thanks for your dear letter and the charming photos. It seems too funny to think that you are about to be married. God bless you, my sweet Child and may you have every possible happiness.
Darling, why did you speak about that subject wh we never wanted to mention again? It is cruel, as you know it never can be — all along I have said so, and do you think it is not already hard enough to know you are hurting just the person whom of all other you wld long to please. But it cannot be — he knows it — and so do not I pray you, speak of it again. I know Ella will begin again, but what is the good of it, and it is cruel always to say I am ruining his life — can I help it, when to make him happy I should be committing a sin in my conscience. It is hard enough as it is, and beginning about it again and again is so unkind. You, who have found what your heart has desired, think only kindly of me, tho' I am grieving you too. One worry and sorrow follows the other — in 5 days we are off to Coburg for Ernie's Wedding — what my feelings are you can imagine. God grant they may be happy — she is such a dear. I am going to England for two or three months, as I shld only be in their way here.

The heat is great, but everything is so green and lovely, and all the fruittrees in bloom — too beautiful, we spend many hours in the woods.
Goodbye my little Chicken, many a loving kiss from yr ever devoted old
Alix
Best love to Sandro

Above: Alix.

Above: Xenia.

Note: "Душка Ксеніи" = "Darling Xenia".

Excerpt from Alix's letter to Queen Victoria, dated January 29, 1894

Source:

Alexandra Feodorovna: Diaries and Correspondence, volume 1: Princess of Hesse, 1872-1893, page 315, by George Hawkins, 2023

The letter:

Darmstadt
Jan 29st 1894
Darling Grandmama
Your dear letter touched me deeply, and I hasten now to thank you for it tenderly. All you said was so good and comforting, and your never changing kindness and affection help me to be happy for dear Ernie's sake. It does one's heart good to see how they love each other & how contented they are — but my feelings are very mixed, as you can well imagine dear Grandmama & I miss my beloved Papa more than ever. The whole country rejoices at the prospect of Ernie's marriage & I am sure they will have no reason to be disappointed in his choice...

Above: Alix.

Above: Queen Victoria.

Alexandra's letter to Nicholas, dated September 19, 1915, and Nicholas's telegram and letter, dated September 18 and 19, 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=230&skin=2021

https://www.alexanderpalace.org/letters/september15.html

The letter:

No. 127.
Tsarskoje Selo, Sept. 19-th 1915
My own sweet Darling,
To-day its four weeks you left us, it was a Saturday evening — Aug. 22-nd. Thank God we may hope to see you soon back again, in our midst — oh what a joy that will be!

Grey & rainy again. —

Thanks for having at once answered me about Yussupov, I directly telegraphed it on to Ella, it will quieten her. —

I am glad Vorontzov's escorts were so nice. How will it all be there now — that nest collecting again together — & Stana has taken there Krupensky's wife as her lady — her husband did the most harm in the talking set at the old Headquarters — & is not a good man. One must have an eye on their behaviour the whole time, they are a dangerous foe now — & as not being good people, our Friend ends your telegr.: "In the Caucasus there is little sunshine". — It hurts one that he should have changed so, but those women turn their husbands round their fingers. —

I see Ducky has been to Minsk to visit hospitals & refugees! Boris is coming to tea. — I placed my candles at Znamenia & prayed so earnestly for my Love. Then I went to our hospital & sat knitting in the different wards — I take my work so as to keep from being in the dressing station, wh. always draws me there. I only did one officer. — In the morning I finished Rost. papers, wh. I could not get done with before, tho' I read till 2 in the night in bed. —

I saw Dr. Pantiukhin fr. Livadia & we spoke about all the hospitals, sanatoriums wh. he hopes can begin their work in Jan., it will be a great boon when they are ready. —

We drove to Pavlovsk, mild, fr. time to time rained. —

Boris told me about his new nomination, wh. has overjoyed him I think, as he will have a lot to do — then I had Isa with papers. At 7 I shall go to Church with Baby. Grabbe wrote to his wife that the ministers' sitting had been stormy & that they wont do as you bid, but that you had been very energetic, a real Tsar — & I was so proud when Ania told me this — ah Lovy, do you feel yr. own strength & wisdom now, that you are yr. own master & will be energetic, decisive & not let yourself be imposed upon by others. — I liked the way Boris spoke of you & the great change in the Headquarters, & how one always gets news there now from all sides, & how cheerful you are.

God be blessed — our Friend was right. — I had a wire fr. my Vesselovsky, that he is ill & had to go from the regiment to look after his health. — Perhaps you are in Church at the same time as we are, that will be a nice feeling. — My supply train No. 1 is at Rovno & fr. there goes out & with a motor column, wh. a Prince Abamelek (fr. Odessa) formed & gave me (he is with it) they take things linnen etc. along the whole front — & they continued without harm under heavy firing — I am so glad Mekk wired fr. Vinnitsa where my big store is. — Varnava has left for Tobolsk, our Friend said we were to send him back. The old man said he was no more to show himself at the Synod. One anounces Samarin's return fr. th. Headquarters & that he at once began the work about Varnava & that he must be dismissed. Please forbid this if it is true & should reach you. — I must end now & dress for Church. Every evening fr. 9-9½ Marie, Baby, I and either Mr. Gilliard or Vladimir Nikolaievitch play "Tishe Yedesh, Dalshe Budesh." — Dinner is very cosy in the middle of the playroom. — Goodnight my beloved One, God bless and protect you guard & guide you & I cover you with kisses
Ever, Nicky, mine yr. very own loving
Wify.

I see the French people Monday at 4½, as they lunch at Elagin. Its such scandle — no flower to be had in town nor here — people stand in long files in the streets before the shops.

Abominably organised, Obolensky is an idiot — one must foresee the things — not wait till they happen. —

Nicholas's telegram:

Telegram. Stavka. 18 September, 1915.
I have immediately ordered the old man to find out about old Felix. I think it is a misunderstanding. The French General D'Amade and two officers are here, sent by Joffre. Tomorrow they are leaving for town. They will ask to be received by you; please see them. Good-night. I kiss You fondly.
NICKY.

Nicholas's letter:

Mogilev. 18 September, 1915.
PRECIOUS BELOVED SUNNY,
Your dear letters move me so deeply that I am quite in despair at being unable to answer in the same manner. I give you, perhaps, only a tenth part of what you give to me by your loving lines.

I find that, the longer our separation lasts, the deeper and firmer become the ties which bind us. A month is much. It is strange how accurately our Friend foresaw the length of time during which I was to be absent: "Thou wilt spend a month there, and then wilt thou return." Now when I leave, our Cossacks (the escort) will, of course, remain here; the other half is stationed at Tsarskoe; so Grabbe has asked me to put the barracks at your disposal — the new ones — for your wounded, till the end of the war. He came and asked me to write to you about it, knowing that this will give you pleasure.

I have just received your last dear letter of the 17th, in which you speak of the good impression which young Khvostov made on you. I was sure of it, knowing him of old, when he was Governor of Vologda, and later in Nijni. And in order not to lose time, I shall see him immediately on the day of my return, at 6 o'clock. Perhaps the elder Khvostov will do for S.'s place.

The day after our conference he asked permission to see me, and came in trembling with indignation against the others. He wanted to know whether I wished to keep him. I naturally said that I wished to do so — but now he will occupy another post. I did not tell him this, as I did not know it myself then.

19 September
It is true that the old man mentioned Kryjanov, but I rejected him. Krasheninnikov is an excellent, energetic man, and will be all right in the capacity of Minister of Justice. These are the chief questions, which I consequently hasten to answer. And now I must finish. God bless you, my precious, beloved little Birdie! Passionately and tenderly I kiss you and the children! Thank A. for her letter.
Always your old hubby
NICKY.

Above: Nicholas and Alexandra. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev on Flickr.

Above: Ella.

Above: Alexei.

Above: Grigori Rasputin.

Above: Maria.

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

Tishe Yedesh, Dalshe Budesh (Тише Едешь, Дальше Будеш) = The quieter you go, the further you'll be.

Alix's letter to Nicholas, dated August 21/September 2 (New Style), 1894

Sources:

Alexandra Feodorovna: Diaries and Correspondence, volume 2: Engagement and Marriage, 1894, pages 304 to 305, by George Hawkins, 2023

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

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid04WDwYwzJ83F274DzfNwFMwVEpvnBKRfsZNRVLVn9NWje7qZg1dBnZ24x1F5pDnqol&id=100067001081671&mibextid=Nif5oz

The letter:

No 91

Wolfsgarten

September 2nd/ 94

Душки Ники,

I send you my very fondest thanks for your dear letter wh made me intensely happy, but long for you quite too much. And it really does not bore my sweety when I write about my love? You know I cannot help it, but it is ever growing and increasing and eating me right up. But who can help loving you, my own pet, you who are so dear and kind, loving, open, true and clever. To look into those sweet eyes is to love you and when they grow and deepen and twinkle and dream and look sad, one's heart is lost and never to be found again. My poor heart you have quite stolen, you old sinner. I don't know how you dared to have the courage to do such a thing, bad boysy, my boysy, my mannykins, my very own, not to be given up ever again.

I am sure you must greatly miss A. Alix and the Cousins, and they you too. Don't I remember the story of the "Geheimnisvolle Schlüssel"! Never to be forgotten — I can roar when I think of it, that despairing look and the perspiration drops!

Yesterday afternoon we sat out whilst the others played their games and then we went in and Ducky read to me. She exasperated me, I must confess — she is far too cold towards dear Ernie, never shows her feeling, will sit mum in the room and only grunt for an answer. It is my despair, as the dear boy I know likes a little love to be shown to him or some interest — she is so abrupt — true, she is only a Child and now one must not criticise her severely, but it hurts me for dear Ernie's sake, because she does love him. If I ever have an occasion I shall hint it, tho' it won't be easy, as one does not want to meddle or seem to be teaching, but for his sake I must do it — if I can get the right moment. I remember her telling me that when they were engaged she would sit near him and never be able to utter a word, not knowing what to say, and that he even had been silent too. He told me the same thing, but that it had been awful, he had never got anything out of her and she had only always said hmm to everything. She never found anything to write either. Well, we do, I think eh, lovy?

Thora is sleeping near me on the sopha. She, I and Gefolge went to Egelsbach Church and heard a very good service. I prayed fervently for you and yr dear Father. I do long to know whether he feels yet any better for the change of air. But is the shooting there not very tiring?

I got a letter from the old Priest this morning (in Russian) — he is at Frankfort. The weather is beautiful, this afternoon we are going to Darmstadt to the theatre as it begins again to-day.

Now I must say Goodbye. God bless you my own precious Darling and yr dear Ones all, to whom tenderest love.

With a good long kiss and tender embrace,

Ever, adored one, my own sweet Nicky, yr very deeply loving, truly devoted and tenderly affectionate spitzbub

Alix.

Above: Nicholas and Alix.

Above: Princess Victoria Melita of Edinburgh, Grand Duchess of Hesse. She was known within the family as Ducky and was Alix's cousin and sister-in-law by her marriage to Alix's brother Ernst, Grand Duke of Hesse.

Notes: "Душки Ники" = "Darling Nicky".

"Geheimnisvolle Schlüssel" = "Mysterious Keys".

Gefolge = entourage.

Alix's letter to Toni Becker, dated January 8, 1894

Source:

Briefe der Zarin Alexandra von Russland an ihre Jugendfreundin Toni Becker-Bracht (2009), edited by Lotte Hoffmann-Kuhnt

The letter:

Den 8ten Jan. 1894

Liebe Toni,

Innigsten Dank für Deinen netten Brief. Es war gar schade, dass Du nicht mit nach Kranichstein konntest. I wanted you so to make the acquaintance of Mr. Whemyss. — Alle haben ihn riesig auf dem Ball bewundert. Lobe mich, ich habe nur in den Touren vom Cottilon mit Needles getanzt — alles Respectspersonen. —

Du kannst Dir denken, dass es mir wehmüthig zu Muthe war, da die Vergangenheit mir lebhaft vor Augen stand. — Sonst war es aber animiert. —

Ich liege auf meinem Bett & ruhe mich nach der Tanzprobe aus, denn heute thut mein Bein mir rasend weh. — Kind bete für uns. Morgen sehr früh geht's nach Coburg — warum — ist nicht nötig zu sagen. Ich freue mich unsäglich mir Ernie erlaubt ruhig in den alten Zimmern weiter zu wohnen — ich werde doch das junge Paar allein lassen. Sie ist so viel jünger als ich, was manches erschweren wird für mich. — But his happiness first. —

Wie anders hätte die Reise nach C. für mich sein können. — Er hat mir geschrieben & seine Photo geschickt, poor dear, quite heartbroken. — I don't know what to do with myself, I must seem happy now tata.

Deine treue Alix

Schreibe mir fleissig — Einen heissen Kuss. Kommst Du auch nicht zum Costümball? —

English translation (my own; original English in italics):

8th Jan. 1894

Dear Toni,

Great thanks for your nice letter. It was a shame that you could not go to Kranichstein. I wanted you so to make the acquaintance of Mr. Whemyss. — Everyone admired him immensely at the ball. Praise me, I only danced with Needles on the Cottilon tours — all of them respectable people. —

You can imagine that I felt sad when I saw the past vividly. — Otherwise it was animated. —

I am lying on my bed & resting after the dance rehearsal, because today my leg hurts madly. — Child, pray for us. Tomorrow very early we are going to Coburg — it is not necessary to say why. I am unutterably happy that Ernie allows me to continue living in the old rooms — I will leave the young couple alone. She is so much younger than me, which will make some things difficult for me. — But his happiness first. —

How different the trip to C. could have been for me. — He wrote to me and sent me his photos, poor dear, quite heartbroken. — I don't know what to do with myself, I must seem happy now tata.

Your faithful Alix

Write to me diligently — a warm kiss Won't you come to the costume ball either? —

Above: Alix.

Above: Ernst and Victoria Melita.

Above: Nicholas.

Notes: Alix's brother Ernie's engagement to their cousin Victoria Melita ("Ducky") was announced in Coburg on January 9th. Alix dreaded the change that would come from Ernie's marriage to the lively Victoria Melita, who was four years her junior and whose character was in total contrast to hers.

"Er hat mir geschrieben & seine Photo geschickt..." = Here Alix is referring to Nicholas.

The Royal Bridesmaids, year 1885

Source:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1885-Antique-Print-ROYAL-WEDDING-Bridesmaids-Princess-Irene-Alix-Hesse-198/383559283396?hash=item594dea32c4:g:AOUAAOSw8e5a81cY