GMZ Tsarskoe Selo
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Sunday, July 7, 2024
Alix's letter to Nicholas, dated May 22 and 23 (New Style), 1894
Source:
Alexandra Feodorovna: Diaries and Correspondence, volume 2: Engagement and Marriage, 1894, pages 76 to 77, by George Hawkins, 2023
The letter:
No. 23
Наррогате, May 22nd 1894
My own darling Nicky,
Here we are at Harrogate, it is getting on for eleven, but yet I must begin my letter to you. I left C. Lodge at 10, had a dressmaker in B. Palace, lunched with Col. Egerton and U. Arthur's Lady and Gentleman, and then off. Got here at 6½, had supper, I tried to carve the chicken but was not very successful and made the Ladies laugh. Our pudding stuck in our throats but all devoured cherrys with delight. Then I arranged my photos and books in the nice, large sitting room we have. The Ladies are playing halma (I did too before) the game you so much like. I have got a nice bedroom. No, I think it will all be quite nice, it is neet, clean and large enough for us.
Most loving tender thanks for your dear letter I received this morning. You must feel so lonely, now that yr Mother has left. When do you go to the camp I wonder? What ages our letters take. Well, enough for to-night. By by.
Good-morning dear. Many tender thanks for your sweet letter I received this morning whilst still in bed. I return the kind one of yr Amama with best thanks. I remember her well enough having seen her at the jubilee 1887 and before.
I had my first sulphur bath this morning, it did not smell lovely, and made my silver bracelet wh I never take off quite black, but that one can clean with the powder one uses for cleaning up one's silver things. Then I rested and began a book.
In half an hour I am going to drive with Schneiderlein. An impudent reporter turned up here this morning to ask when and with whom I had arrived, so they have found out already who I am and it is stupid.
I must write still to Granny as her Birthday is to-morrow, and Ludwig's.
It is cold and windy and not at all pleasant out. What joy your letters are to me, you can imagine, and it is my happiest time when I receive them. Fancy only, the first thing I noticed when I came into the room was an old print of Granny's and one of Grandpapa. I think it too nice. We bought some flowers and a pot of marguerites this morning and they make the room look more cheery. There is a nice bowwindow wh. I am so fond of.
But for to-day I must say Goodbye. God bless you my own sweet, precious Nicky dear whom I love more than words can express and for whose happiness and welfare I DAILY PRAY.
Ever, my boys, Yr own very loving old owl
Alix
Above: Nicholas and Alix.
Notes: "Наррогате" = Harrogate. Alix, who was still very much new to Russian, understandably confused the Cyrillic letter Н (N) for the Latin letter H.
Amama = Queen Louise of Denmark, Nicholas's maternal grandmother.
Alix's second letter to Nicholas of May 21 (New Style), 1894
Source:
Alexandra Feodorovna: Diaries and Correspondence, volume 2: Engagement and Marriage, 1894, pages 71 to 72, by George Hawkins, 2023
The letter:
No. 22.
Cumberland Lodge
May 21st 1894
Душки Ники,
I am again sitting with very little clothing on, as I am going to jump into bed in a few minutes, but I am writing now as I shall have no time to-morrow. Well, our drive to the stores in Eaton was most successful, I bought to pots of devilled ham, 2 tongue and 2 gentlemen's relish, a jar of strawberry and one of blackcurrant jam, and a tin of biscuits. Don't you call this grand, I think my provisions, self chosen, proud, and shall eat them with delight. I fear it will be remarkably dull in Harrogate, especially the evenings. I feel rather as if I were going into exile, and rather low as I have never been away without a relation and I shall feel lost — only two [illegible] only fat Seibert as a man!
I enclose a little photo I bought at E. too and wh. I thought you might like, it is so pretty but unluckily, rather spoilt and they had no other. Then we went to the Lochs to tea, the one sister is Aunt Helena's Lady in waiting whom I know very well[.] We came home through the Park and over a meadow, where I picked these few flowers for my own sweet love in remembrance of the Rosenau.
When we came home I rested and Thora and I chattered. After dinner Frl. v. Egloffstein played by heart to us, Uncle Christian read the papers and Aunt Helena laid patiences and Thora and I sat on the sopha and worked.
The little dog is getting now quite accustomed to Madelaine and runs after her. I am so sorry to leave this nice room I am in, it is so cosy. A delightful fine place with wood panelling and china slabs, carved bed cubboard and table, old prints and china plates on the wall, it reminds me of our beloved Romrod, when you come home to us, we must take you there for a night. Altogether you will be dragged to see everything, if it does not bore you, as it is so much nicer when you know all the places we always talk about. Try and like Thora, will you? She really is such a good, unselfish, clever, kind girl. Her outward appearance is perhaps not quite as favourable as it might be, but we are not answerable for our faces, are we, and don't you think brains and a heart are worth 1000 times more. Her life here at home is not easy, and I pray to God that he may let her find a nice husband to give her that love of wh. she has not had much.
Alas she has funny manners sometimes and gets on people's nerves, but had she a husband to whom she could look up to, he wld change her and bring all her good qualities more out. She is too bescheiden and gives all to Louise Aribert.
This letter will go to-morrow again at 8. I am so sorry I was not able to send one more interesting, but I am a dull old "owl" and not as wise as the bearer of the name ought to be. But I am tired, love, let me say Good night to you. Many fond kisses. God bless you and protect you, my Ники, my own true love, my pet, my one and all, my own precious and darling Boy.
Ever yr deeply loving affectionate and truly devoted little Girl
Alix
Please give kind old Mr Heath many messages from me, or do you think he no longer remembers me?
Above: Nicholas and Alix.
Notes: "Душки Ники" = "Darling Nicky".
bescheiden = unassuming.
Ultimately, Thora never married.
Alix's letter to Nicholas, dated May 21 (New Style), 1894
Source:
Alexandra Feodorovna: Diaries and Correspondence, volume 2: Engagement and Marriage, 1894, pages 70 to 71, by George Hawkins, 2023
The letter:
No. 21
Cumberland Lodge
May 21st 1894
My own beloved Ники dear,
A good loving kiss and tenderest thanks for no. 14 wh. I got this morning. Poor creature, you are being roasted whilst we are frozen here. I am sitting in Thora's room and she is working a waistcoat for the stableboy. I never told you about Faust which was given at Windsor on Saturday. It was to be over at 12, but was very much later wh. upset Granny that it went on into the Sunday.
Albani sang quite splendidly but the best of all was Plançon as Mephisto — he was grand — I never heard such a voice before. We sat during the whole performance without once getting up for a second, so that we got so stiff I thought I had grown to the chair.
I am so glad you saw Ella in St Petersburg. Poor creature with bad eyes, you know Uncle Alfred had it too when he arrived. So you have been to the Winter Palace to look at the rooms. What do you really think of them? It is sad you will have to leave your nice old ones. I dreamt of you all the other day, it was so funny.
Now the sun is shining gloriously after a shower and the birds are twittering away so lively, but it is cold. Sweet Love, I long for a kiss from you. It is so nice being here, so quiet and peaceful. I wish I were stopping here longer. Thora's room is so pretty and cozy.
I have received another present to-day, a little silver heart-shaped tray (ashtray) from one of Granny's Ladies whom I have known for ages. You must not be angry if this letter is very dull, but alas I have nothing of interest to tell you. Thora is perfectly ramolie from a cold. She is trying to learn Russian and will greet you with a Russian phrase when you arrive. Oh, what joy when that day approaches, I am counting the minutes till then. I fear we shall be very dull at Harrogate, but Schneiderlein must amuse us. Oh, my legs ache, I feel as tho' the bones were coming out through the flesh. I shall have to go and get ready for luncheon in a few minutes so my scrawl must come to an end. Goodbye my precious love and own sweet Darling. God bless you love.
Ever yr own true love, devoted for life,
Alix
Above: Nicholas and Alix.
Note: ramolie = exhausted.
Alix's letter to Nicholas, dated May 20 (New Style), 1894
Source:
Alexandra Feodorovna: Diaries and Correspondence, volume 2: Engagement and Marriage, 1894, pages 68 to 70, by George Hawkins, 2023
The letter:
No. 20
Cumberland Lodge, Windsor
May 20th 1894
My own precious Darling,
I am very sorry, but a day will pass without your getting a letter, as the post left early this afternoon and I had no time for writing. This will go to-morrow at 8 a.m.
Think only a month to-day that we are engaged, does that not seem funny? It is quite an old story now and yet I cannot always quite grasp it, the happiness is too great. Well you know I have neither heard from you to-day, it is the Sunday post so probably to-morrow I may get two.
We went to Church this morning, but alas no good service, after that I left and Liko drove me over here with his four in hand, and took Aunt Helena then to Windsor for luncheon. At about 4 Mr. Wennyss arrived — Ernie's and my and Thora's great friend — don't be shocked please, or think me noughty, but he was asked on purpose for me as I greatly wanted to see him and we had a nice chat about Ernie whom he adores. It was the first time he and I were alone for a few minutes. He was a long time with us last summer, then a bit in the winter and was at Coburg for E's Wedding and when we arrived at Darmstadt, we saw him in the street. I wish you knew him, he is so charming, clever and kind and I am happy Ernie has such a real friend.
Don't laugh at me for always speaking about young men, but I want you to know about this one, he would just be one you would like, not cloying like R... The[y], our relations over here, must always grumble and be jealous, and so they are of him, so I have not told anyone he is here. He leaves to-morrow early at 8 as he is going to his poor cousin's funeral, the one I wrote about.
But it is getting on for 11, so I must soon end this epistle, as I want to send Ernie a line still, to tell him I have see[n] his friend and then I must pop into bed.
We looked at the stables here and the garden, during little showers. It was bitterly cold, so that furs were necessary.
I am copy[ing] out more pretty lines of poetry, I shall send them you another time. The Rotodendrons are in full bloom before the house and look glorious in their merry, bright colours.
Oh, how I wish you were here, so quite and nice, no Gefolge, I left the Ladies behind — a real country house where each can do as he likes. No, how dull it will be at Harrogate, only with the two Ladies.
I shall learn all day, that will be an [illegible] occupation at least and I hope I will not be too stupid or slow about it.
Sweetest love, God bless you. Many tender kisses.
I am for ever and ever, yr own truly devoted
Little girly
Alix
I love you, I love you, that's all I can say my Nicky, my love, my own precious Darling, anyone and all, my beloved лаусбубъ
I shall try and write a line to-morrow afternoon.
There — I have had again to tear up the envelope, I am such an old machine, as my only French address is always to Ella, so now I begin yours always as Madame — too idiotic — I am ramolie.
Above: Nicholas and Alix on their engagement day at Coburg, on April 20, 1894.
Notes: Gefolge = entourage.
ramolie = exhausted.
Saturday, July 6, 2024
Alexandra's letter to Nicholas, dated October 7, 1915, and Nicholas's letter, dated October 7, 1915
Sources:
Letters of the Tsaritsa to the Tsar, 1914-1916, published by Duckworth & Co., 1923
The letter:
No. 136.
Tsarskoje Selo, Oct. 7-th 1915
My very Own,
Sweetest Darling, I try to picture to myself how you sat answering congratulations. I also got from some of Baby's regiments (I collect his regimental ones for him during the war) & I answered that he was at the Headquarters, as I was sure it would rejoice their hearts to know Father and Son together. — Since yesterday evening it gently snows, but scarcely any remains lying — does seem so early already to have real winter beginning.
Lovy Dear, I send you two stamps (money) fr. our Friend, to show you that already one of them is false. People are very discontented — such wee papers flie away, in the darkness they cheat the cabmen & its not a good thing — he entreats you to have it stopped at once. — That rotten Bulgaria, now we shall have them turning against us from the south, or do you think they will only turn against Servia & then Greece — its vile. Did you wire to old King Peter, our Friend wanted it so much.
Oh my love, its 20 m. to 8 & I am absolutely cretinised have heaps to say & don't know how to begin. — 10½-12½ operation, & gips being put on — 12 — 1 Krivoshein, we only spoke about the home manufactures committee how to arrange it, whom to invite etc. Girls came late to lunch, had to choose cloaks for them, received officers — Bark for ½ hour, then to big palace. Then got yr. precious letter for wh. I thank you without end, you sweet One — I loved to get it & have reread it & kissed it & Tiny's too. — Our Friend is rather anxious about Riga, are you too? —
I spoke to Bark about the stamps — he also found the stamps wrong, wants to get the Japanese to make coins for us — & then to have the paper-money, instead of wee stamps, like the Italian lire, wh. is then really paper-money. —
He was very interesting. Then Mme Zizi, then young Lady Sybil de Grey, who has come to arrange the English Hospital & Malcolm (whom I knew before, was at Mossy's Wedding, our Coronation as a fair curly young man in a kilt), both remained 20 minutes each.
Then Khvostov till this minute & my head buzzes from everything.
As remplacant of Dzhunkovsky for the Gendarmes he thought Tatischev (Zizi's son in law) might do, discrete & a real gentleman — only then he ought to wear a uniform — you gave Obolensky one again & Kurlov & Prince Obolensky general governor of Finland — he asked me to tell you this beforehand so as that you should think whether it would suit you. He wishes to ask to be received next week by you & he told me the different questions he will touch.
To-morrow I'll try & write more, when can calmly shape all into words — I am too idiotical this evening. — Our Friend was very contented with yr. decree about Bulgaria, found it well worded. —
I must then end now. Thanks again over & over for yr. sweetest letter, beloved Angel. I can see you & the wee one in the morning & be talking to you whilst you half sleep. Bad Boy wrote today: Papa made smells much and long this morning. Too noughty!
Oh my Angels how I love you — but you will miss him shockingly later.
Just got your telegram. What news Deary, I long to have some, it seems very difficult again, does it not?
Goodbye my Sun, I cover you with fond kisses. Bless you my Love.
Ever yr. very own old
Sunny.
Nicholas's letter:
Mogilev. 7 October, 1915
MY DEAR, PRECIOUS WIFY,
My warmest thanks for your dear letter. You have suddenly numbered your last two letters No. 465 and 466 running ahead by a whole hundred — the last before these was No. 364. Agoosenki! Please thank all the girls [for] their letters.
There is no sun to-day for the first time — it has been grey and dreary; my report was finished earlier than usual and I went into the little garden where Alexey was marching about, singing loudly, and Derevenko, was walking on another path, whistling. I had not been there since the day of our arrival. His left hand hurts him a little, because yesterday he worked in the sand on the river bank, but he pays no attention to it and is very cheerful. After lunch he always rests for about half an hour, and Mr. Gilliard reads to him, while I write. At the table, he sits on my left: George is usually his neighbour. Alexey loves to tease him. It is extraordinary how he has lost his shyness! He always follows me when I greet my gentlemen, and stands still during our zakouska.
You must save up your strength now, to be able to stand the fatiguing journey here! Please.
The news which comes from all our fronts is good — with the exception of the vicinity of Riga, where our troops have abandoned their advanced positions too quickly. Three Generals will pay for this — I gave Rouzsky orders to dismiss them and to replace them by better ones; they are my first victims, but deservedly so.
The little Admiral had not answered my letter then, but now he asks for leave to go to Kislovodsk for a short cure.
Well, my little bird, it is time to finish, as the train is leaving earlier than usual. God bless you and the girls!
With warm good wishes and most ardent love always, my precious darling,
Your loving old
NICKY.
Above: Nicholas and Alexandra with Alexei. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK.
Above: Alexei with Pierre Gilliard.
Above: Grigori Rasputin.
Notes: Alexandra almost always referred to Grigori Rasputin as "our Friend".
Servia = the old name for Serbia.
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