«Oh, they (OTMA) were lovely, and terribly sweet, far more beautiful than their photographs show. I was crackers about Marie, and was determined to marry her. She was absolutely lovely. I keep her photograph in my bedroom- always have.»
Emperor Nicholas II with his children: Grand Duchesses Tatiana, Olga, Maria, Anastasia, and Tsarevich Alexei, and with sons of his sister Grand Duchess Xenia: Princes Rostislav, Dmitry, Feodor, and Vasili*, ca.1914.
*I’m not very good with recognizing Xenia’s sons so please let me know if I made a mistake.
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia with her daughters Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia of Russia, visiting wounded soldiers, 1915-1916.
“Went to church with Papa and Mama. Had breakfast [we] 5, Papa and Mama on the sofa. [We] 4 went to the Gr.[and] Pal.[ace]. Walked with Papa and Mama [rode] in a carriage. Broke ice [we] 4 with Papa. Had tea in the playroom. [We] 5 went to Anya’s concert at the infirmary, ‘Ivanov Pavel’ and the magicians. Went to our infirmaries with A[nastasia]., 17 soldiers arrived from the train. Rode around with A. and Shura. Had dinner 5 with Papa, Mama, Silaev and Anya. Papa read.”
- Maria Nikolaevna’s diary, 20th March/2nd April 1916
![“Went to church with Papa and Mama. Had breakfast [we] 5, Papa and Mama on the sofa. [We] 4 went to](https://64.media.tumblr.com/d012fc0dc89c3afd6f2e9f8d1a8983f6/028ff8cf1f8f18dd-13/s1280x1920/a58cbe4426923d97a7a3d831829a03fc59e46ba9.jpg "“Went to church with Papa and Mama. Had breakfast [we] 5, Papa and Mama on the sofa. [We] 4 went to")
