Letter to Alexandra from Alexei, dated August 8, 1916

Source:

Letters and writings of Nicholas II and his family on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=243573740720347&id=108838347527221

The letter:

Stavka 8 August 1916

My dear, sweet, darling, beloved Mama.

It has been raining since morning. I have just had a mud bath. Yesterday we went boating on the Dnepr. It was very hot. Papa and the cadets went for a swim! In the evening we stuffed our faces in our little garden. The boys thank you and Tatiana very much for your greetings and kisses. I am waiting for Zhilik to come. I'll finish off now and continue in my next letter. May God protect you and the sisters +!

Kisses

Alexei

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

Above: Alexei on the bank of the Dnepr River.

Letter to Alexandra from Alexei, dated May 21, 1916

Source:

Letters and writings of Nicholas II and his family on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=244751180602603&id=108838347527221

The letter:

Stavka 21 May 1916

My dear Mama,

I played in the woods while Papa went for a walk. He went 8 versts. I'm running late for my walk, which is why I am writing badly. Papa is at Headquarters now. We went on a boat today. Yesterday, while Papa was still sleeping, I got into his bed with a cushion and tickled him and tormented him. Please greet P. V. P. and Siniy, and the others. May God protect you +

Lovingly yours,

Alexei

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

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

Maple Room corner divan (it still needs some trim)

Source:

Sergei Efimov on VK

Alix's letter to Ernst, dated July 24/August 5, 1889

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:

Darling Ernie,

I am writing to tell you now, what Grandmamma has let us know. She leaves Osborne on the 22nd for Wales, and arrives at Balmoral on the 28th. — So you better write immediately, & settle with her, what you intend doing. — I leave probably on the 11th, & Irène on the 9th, after the Christening at the Heiligenberg. —

Yesterday we drove at a quarter past nine to Darmstadt, (all of us) where Irène rested an hour, I worked & wrote & the ladies went to the Schlosskirche. Baby of course went with us. Then we drove with other horses & carriages through the park to Wolfsgarten. Fr. v. Seckendorff was enchanted with the place, & Wilhelmine showed her everything. Uncle Henry & Abby came for luncheon, & afterwards the latter, Gretchen & I played billiards. Indigo looks quite nice & fat, & ran about merrily in the courtyard, Ba[m]bino also. — Papa had already gone there on Saturday for shooting, & when we returned here by rail, he drove himself to Dieburg. —

The day before yesterday, there was a fire here in the village, & our baker's Scheune was burnt down, & one or two pigs.

Tebe sends you both very many messages.

Now Addio, with a long & tender embrace, Ever your loving Alix.

Above: Alix.

Above: Ernst.

Note: Scheune = barn.

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Alix's letter to Ernst, dated July 9/21, 1889

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,

I hope you are not angry with me, for not having written for such a long time, its really a shame of me. —

You will be astonished, that I write on paper with Alexander as Monogramm, but it is some paper of uncles, wh. the others gave me to use.

Charlotte sent me two mignon photos of herself. I think the one is for you. Which would you like — the one reading, or the one standing? When you have settled which, I shall send it you. —

I am going to Osborne on the 9th or 10th, & from there with Grdmama to Wales. There would be no room for you to go with her there, but those days you could see some other places. Will you travel with me to England, or are you going to a seabath?

I heard from Tebe just before, & she sends you both her love. — She returns to Darmstadt on Tuesday. Her mother has sold there house to H. v. Riedesel, & the new one, in wh. they will live, is in the Anna Strasse, where Grunau lived, I think she said. —

We went to Church this morning, & I am in a great heat. — Gretchen has gone for the day & night to Werner's at Auerbach. We went there the other day & I had to think so much of the two.

Victoria & the Baby are getting on very well. The Christening is to be, when Papa returns from England, after the Wedding, if V: is strong enough then. — Louise, Alexandra, Irène, Marie, I think they intend calling her. She is awfully tiny, rather like Victoria, only very dark. Alice is enchanted with her. The Baby here, has been vaxinated. — Papa ran about with the 2 goats & both sheep yesterday in the heat. — I shall have to let my squirrel run in a day or two, as he smells alas, too dreadfully. —

Excuse this untidy writing. Ever yr loving Alix.

[P. S.] 1000 tender kisses. —

Above: Alix.

Above: Ernst.

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Alix's letter to Ernst, dated June 27/July 9, 1889

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:

Darling Ernie,

I hasten to send you a few lines before dressing for luncheon, to wh. two ladies are coming.

I have just had my last singing lesson from H. Steinbach, wh. is a great pity, as he gives such good and pleasant ones. Now I must try Fr. Knispel. —

I must not forget to ask Louie for the little Picture we bought at Kiel, to give Irène on the 11th. —

This morning we & Baby were photographed. —

Tebe sends you both again very many messages. — Excuse this mad writing but I am in tremendous heat & haste. —

The concerts on Saturday & yesterday were charming, but very long. — Have you heard of Gleichen's engagement to Paulinchen v. Schenk & of the Gugels, to? —

When are you coming?

To-morrow we leave here, stay over night at Darmstadt, & in the afternoon to Seeheim. Went with Papa to the Dom this morning. — With tender embraces, Ever yr loving Alix.

Above: Alix.

Above: Ernst.

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Alix's letter to Ernst, dated June 22/July 4, 1889

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:

Darling Ernie,

I am going to ask Albert Grancy to take you these lines, so as to show you, that it is not lazyness of my part, not writing, but that I really have very little time. When my lessons are over, I sit with Irène in the garden, & play the Festungsspiel, or carry Baby about. He has grown so much, & has got such a nice plump & cheery fellow, — really he is a great Duck! —

I have heard already twice from Tebe, since she is at Michelbach, where she is enjoying her stay. She sends you both many messages, & wants you to tell me everything about Pebe, & how he likes being where he is, so that I might then relate it to her. —

I suppose you were also as astonished as we were, at Louise's betrothal. I hear that they are exceedingly happy, & that the Wedding is going to be towards the end of this month. Very quick & hasty it seems. —

On the 6th is Toria of Wales Birthday, & Grf: Rantzaus. —

We have just come in from the garden, where it was very warm, & where we were stung by numerous gnats. No delight, I can assure you. — I am writing to you with a glass pen, wh. Gretchen bought for me this morning, when we were at Wiesbaden. It writes quite nicely. The shape is so: [little drawing of pen]. — This evening we are going to a Circus, wh. is here for a few days — such a pitty Irène cannot go with us. — I heard from Ella just before, — she mentions that: U. Sache, A. Minny, Xenia & Micha, A. Marie, Queen O. of Greece, with her Nicky & Minny have gone for a trip again to Finland. — By this time Ella & Serge are at Ilinskoe.

With a 1000 tender embraces, I am, Sweet old Dear, yr ever loving Alix.

[P.S.] I hope the heat is not too great, & that the gnats & Kinderwagen are not too troublesome. I hope you will enjoy seeing Dresden, & that your visite to the King & Queen will be pleasant. — Uncle Fr.[ancis] Teck comes to-morrow fr. Jugenheim, where he has been for two days. — Do not forget Tebe's messages. —

Above: Alix.

Above: Ernst.

Note: Kinderwagen = pram.

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