#romanovs

“Slept terribly, had earache - [had] a warm compress, and Polyakov does not allow me [to go] to the Red Room, so I am in the bedroom on the couch. Papa stopped by before breakfast and after. Mama sat during the day. Anya too. Al. had breakfast with me. Trina had tea. Nastenka stopped by. In the evening Papa and Mama stopped by. T[emperature]° 37,5 - 37,5 - 37,3 - 37,2. Fell asleep rather early.”

- Olga Nikolaevna’s diary, 13th/26th February 1917

Felix Yusupov and Princess Irina Alexandrovna on their wedding day, 9th/22nd February 1914

“Our darling has gone - what joy, yet my God! How empty the house feels (and my heart!) after all the excitement and bustle of the last days. May the Lord only bless their happiness and life. It’s the most important - the rest is nothing. […] Mama and Nicky were her sponsors. We passed down the hall. Vasia walked in front with an icon (what a dear!), Nicky led Irina, I walked behind him with Mama, who was led by Sandro. […]

They both looked so lovely, so young, happy and she - so lovely n the little diadem which he gave her, and my veil. Nicky said he had never seen her so beautiful! […] The young couple were radiant, it’s the only thing that kept me going. Towards six o’clock we left. Irina and Felix passed by to see his parents. We went home, to welcome them with the bread and salt! They were photographed again in the hall. […] May God grant them a safe arrival, and every, every good thing… my God. What emptiness in the house.”

- Extracts of Xenia Alexandrovna’s diary, 9th/22nd February 1914

Olga Nikolaevna and Tatiana Nikolaevna’s diary entries for 8th/21st February 1913

“Had lessons. About 8 degrees below. Had breakfast with Papa, Mama (she also sat) and Uncle Georgi. In the afternoon skied down the hill by the white tower with Papa. Mama and Anya were there too. In the evening we 2 and Papa went to [see] an opera - Lohengrin: Sobinov, Golska, Cherkasskaya, etc. So beautiful – we saw it for the first time. Aunt Olga was there – the darling. Came home around 1 in the morning. Mama was tired.”

- Olga’s diary

“Had lessons in the morning. Had breakfast [we] four with Mama, Papa and U.[ncle] Georgi. In the afternoon skied down the hill. Mama and Alexei were there too. Had tea with Trina. Had a French lessons, and then Papa, Olga and I went to the theater. The opera, Lohengrin. Wonderfully nice, and I liked it a lot. Golska sang. Returned at 12 ¾. Went to bed.”

- Tatiana’s diary

Tatiana Nikolaevna, February 1916

“My dear darling Papa,

My Voznesentzy telegraphed that they saw You. I am terribly pleased for them and regret that I was not there too. Yesterday afternoon, they had a small concert at Anya’s infirmary, we five went to see it. We and the soldiers liked it tremendously. Delazari was there and told us a lot of funny things. Later they played the guitar and sand. Very nice. Nikolai Nikolaevich Rodionov was also there. He leaves today. How is Kedrov? Did you get used to him and he to you? And what is Mordvinov doing? These days it is cold, five or more degrees below. 

Yesterday we received the [new] cadets coming into our regiments, from the Nikolaevsky Cavalry School. I had two: Viranovsky and Budim-Levkovich. I do not know if the former is a relative of our Crimean, but he said that his father was in the 8th corps, where is he do you know? Everything is the same, nothing new. [it is] lonesome without you. The only thing Maria does is talk. During breakfast, after, during rides. In short, whenever we are [with her], and there is no way to stop her. I am sitting in the classroom now before the lesson. Sitting across from me is P.V.P. and daydreaming. At time, [he] says something, but I don’t even hear him and don’t respond, as I am writing. Well, goodbye. May God bless You. I embrace you firmly and gently.

Your Voznesenetz.”

- Tatiana to Nicholas II, 1st/14th February 1916

“My dear darling Papa,

Today a poor Scout of the 10th Battalion is having surgery. He has a very badly shattered leg, and they fear that he may have tetanus because his friend, with whom he was [sharing a room], had serious tetanus, and they think that he had already died. I hope very much that he will have nothing. Later today I will have a meeting in town. So horribly boring to go there. We very much rejoiced that Erzurum was taken, the wounded were all very happy about it. 

Do You walk a lot? And where - in the country or around here somewhere? Mama’s cheek is better, thank God, and the swelling is almost completely gone. I often recall the evenings when we sat with Mama, about ‘Olive, ect.’ Such a pity that it’s all over. I wish it would continue. Are you reading something now? Well, goodbye, Papa darling. May God bless You. I embrace you firmly and kiss you, as [much as I] love [you]. Your Voznesenetz.”

- 5th/18th February

Olga Nikolaevna and Tatiana Nikolaevna’s diary entries for 3rd/16th February 1913

“Went to Obednya at 10 ½, stayed in the chapel. Papa went to the 2nd Artillery Calvarly Regiment parade. Had breakfast with Mama. After that she played the piano for a while and sat on the balcony, but she is not feeling well because of yesterday. Skied down the hill with Papa. Cinematograph at 4 ½, Dmitri, Vasia and Rostislav came over. We 4 went the see the ballet ‘The Pharaoh’s Daughter’ with Papa. Pavlova danced. Aunt Olga was also there. Returned at about 1 in the morning. May the Lord save us.”

- Olga’s diary

“In the morning [we] four went to the regimental church. Saw the officers today after all, coming out of Anya’s at 12 ½. Had breakfast [we] four with Mama. In the afternoon skied with Papa. Alexei sat in a chair and watched. Had tea upstairs, with three of Aunt Ksenia’s youngest children. Then [watched] a cinematograph. Obednya at the regimental [church] and went to the theatre [we] 4 with Papa. They performed ballet ‘The Pharaoh’s Daughter,’ it was really lovely. Saw Sashla at the theatre, Zoya, Sasha. Returned at at 12 ¾.”

- Tatiana’s diary

“Had a lesson in the morning. Went to the infirmary. Helped Nurse Kolzanova lay out instruments. Mama came at 11 o’clock, [for] Troitzky’s hernia surgery. Handed the materials and sutures [while] Olga set them up with Kolzanova. Then bandaged Kiyanov of the 96th Omsk Regiment, Gumanyuk and Yagmin’s left leg. Returned home at 1.30. Breakfast with Mama, the Count and Emma Fredericksz. The four of us went sleighing. Went to the Grand Palace. Had tea upstairs. Had a lesson. Had dinner with Mama, then [we] three went to the infirmary. Sat a little with Anya, then looked at the album with Nizhegorodtzy. Zeleny is in their ward, of Mama’s 21st Infantry Regiment. Returned at 10.30. Papa is in Sevastopol was on the ‘Evstafiya’ and ‘Kaghul,’ inspected the new recruits.”

- Tatiana Nikolaevna’s diary, 29th January/11th February 1915

“Had lessons. Had breakfast with Mama. Papa went hunting, killed a lynx and 3 pheasants. In the afternoon we 4 slid down the hill on spades. Trina ran around with us. At 4 o’cl. 22 min Tatiana, Olga Yevgenievna and I went to Petersburg. We went directly to Anichkov [palace]. Grandmama hosted a Christmas party for the Cossacks, soldiers and officers. It was lots of fun. Talked to the guard officers. But my friend AKSHV was not there – [he] was sick. From there we went to Aunt Olga’s for dinner. From there, [we] went to the circus with her and Irina. It was lots of fun. Dear N.P. was there. Returned and went to bed at about 12 o’cl.”

- Olga Nikolaevna’s diary, 28th January/10th February 1913

“Had a lesson. Drove to the infirmary. Bandaged Gordinsky, Sychev and Kusov and Potulov. Then sat with Nizhegorodtzy. Lunch with Mama. [We] 2 with Isa went at 1.20 to Petrograd to Countess Karlova’s house, where she has her ten wounded officers. Then went upstairs to see her grandson and the son of Katya Galitzine. Pushkin boy. Then had tea with her downstairs. Went to charities. Ran into Ivan Melnikov at the entrance. Incredibly beautiful. Had tea upstairs. Had lessons. Went to the infirmary. Visited Anya for a short time, came by to see everyone and sat with Nizhegorodtzy. Terribly Sweet.”

- Tatiana Nikolaevna’s diary, 28th January/10th February 1915

“My precious Papa darling!

Now we are going to church. The weather is wonderful now, the sun shines so nicely. Yesterday Mama’s train arrived with the wounded. I wish I were with you! I will finish this letter later as I will be late for church. Well, we just got back from our infirmary. 11 lower ranks arrived there. This one poor young officer, who was injured in the head and therefore cannot speak and can barely hear. I got a letter from a soldier. We went to Glindeman’s wedding, he is from the 3rd Sharpshooter regiment. His current wife is sweet and very young. Their wedding took place at the Palace lower church. Of course there was some confusion prior to it, because no one knew where it will take place, and poor Glindeman ran around and did not know what to do.

Right now we will have tea, but Mama and Olga and Tatiana have not returned from the Grand Palace yet. They have been there for over an hour already. Regards to Nikolai Pavlovich and to Mordvinov too. Vachnadze can walk already, he is a nizhegorodetz. Well, I think I told you everything we did. Kiss to Aunt Olga. Goodbye, Papa darling. I give you a big kiss, your loving daughter

Nastasia
Shvybzik
ANRPKZSG
May the Lord be with you!
Sleep well and see me in your dreams.”

- Anastasia Nikolaevna to Nicholas II, 25th January/7th February 1915

“Had lessons. Had breakfast with Papa and Mama. In the afternoon walked with Papa. It snowed the whole time. 1 ½ degrees below. Mama sat on the balcony and is feeling better. At 4 o’cl. we 4 went to Petersburg with Papa. Stopped by Aunt Ksenia’s, and then went to Grandmama’s for tea and a Christmas party. Aunt Ksenia, Uncle Sandro and the children, Aunt Olga and Uncle Petya [were there]. Got a lot of nice gifts. From there we went to Aunt
Olga’s for dinner. At 8.15 the little ones went home with Trina, and we 2 and Papa went to the Alexandrinsky Theater – ‘The Assembly’. Very interesting. Returned a little after midnight. Mama was in bed but not sleeping.”

- Olga Nikolaevna’s diary, 24th January/6th February 1913

“My dear Rita, darling.  

Thank you very much for the greetings. I got Ksenia’s sweet letter, [she] congratulated me, such a darling. O.P. wrote me a long letter, about her wedding to the Baron. It is sad that everyone from the infirmary could not be there. He also wrote to me and said that he saw Vera Ignatievna at the infirmary. She is [wearing] epaulets, large boots with spurs, did not even ask the Baron how he was doing. So shameful. I did not expect how fast she would change. Although lately she had been very strange. What are you up to? Do you spend your time nicely? Bibi finally wrote, says that Kirilka got ill with appendicitis – poor thing. 

The only warm room [here] in the entire house is Papa’s and our brother’s bathroom, where we sat and had tea today. In the hall it is 5 ¾ [degrees] today – we walk around in our valenki and thick knitted sweaters. We still take walks outside twice a day. Well, goodbye Ritka darling. Write to me – I will be very happy. Tell Zinochka to address her letters directly to us – they will get here faster. May Christ be with you my dear. If Sashurka and N. Ya. are there, give them regards. All the best. 

Tatiana.”

- Tatiana Nikolaevna to Margarita Khitrovo, 23rd January/5th February 1918

“Had lessons. 3 degrees below. At 10 o’cl. Otetz Alexander came over and gave Mama communion. She is feeling better, thank God. Had breakfast with her and Trina. Papa went to the consecration of the new barracks of the 4th Rifle Regiment’s 2nd Battalion and had breakfast there. In the afternoon we 4 walked with him. There was more snow. Exercises at 4 o’cl. as usual. Uncle Pavel had tea with Papa and Mama. [We] had a dance lesson. Had dinner with Papa, Mama and Veselkin. Kaisorsky was telling funny stories. In the afternoon Lili Dehn and Titi came to [see] Mama. So sweet.”

- Olga Nikolaevna’s diary, 22nd January/4th February 1913

Olga and Tatiana Nikolaevna with an officer, 22nd January/4th February 1915

“At 9.30 [we] 4 went with Papa and Mama to church for moleben. At 10 o’clock Papa departed. So sad. [We] two went to the infirmary. Bandaged Krat, Gordinsky, Belitsky, Otmarshteyn and Gumanyuk. Took photographs in each ward. Breakfast and lunch with Mama. Then walked. Sat a little with Alexei, who is in bed as leg and arm ache. Went to the Grand Palace. Had tea with Mama upstairs at Alexei’s. Had lessons. After lunch we went to ours. Sat with Nizhegorodtzy. Put together a puzzle with Navruzov and Vachnadze, then worked. Retuned, sat with Mama.”

- Tatiana’s diary, 22nd January/4th February 1915

“At 10 ½ went to obednya at the regimental church. There was a big breakfast and music. Sat with Baron Karf and Admiral Nilov at Papa’s table. Saw my friend AKSHV, greeted him and felt happy, but did not talk to him. At 2 o’cl. 7 min we 4 went to Petersburg with Olga Yevgenievna. Went to [see] Grandmama at Anichkov and then went with Aunt Olga to her [house]. At 4 o’cl. dear N.P., P.A. Voronov, S.S. Klyucharev, N.N. Rodionov, V.V. Kvoshinsky., A. Shangin – a cuirassier and N.A. Kulikovsky arrived. Aunt Olga was there. [We] had tea and then ran around, played and danced to the phonograph until 6 o’clock. 

At 6 ½ [we] went to get dressed. Dinner was at 7 o’cl. 15 min. [I] sat with Shangin and N.P. Was so happy to see him, the dear one, and talk to him. It was sad not to see Mama for so long. She is still not feeling well, but is a little better. At 8 o’cl. 45 min Papa came to get us and we went to the Mariinsky Theater with him to see the ‘Don Quixote’ ballet. Pavlova danced wonderfully. Saw Prince Beloselsky from afar. Returned at 12 o’cl. Anya was sitting with Mama.”

- Olga Nikolaevna’s diary, 20th January/2nd February 1913