There was a huge gulf between Princess Alice and her husband - certainly intellectually. Alice was not slow in reminding Louis of this. She began a tradition (one of many) - maintained by her daugher, Alix. When Louis went off to war, she bombarded him daily with letters. The poor man made an effort to respond, but somehow this was never quite good enough for Alice. I recall reading where she wrote in one letter to the effect - 'Just write. It doesn't matter what... rubbish will do.'
Of course, there was also the fact they were constantly 'hard up' - by royal standards. It was Alice' mother, Queen Victoria, not her husband, who provided the capital for their new home in Darmstadt. When Louis inherited the title and Alice became Grand Duchess and first lady, what did she do whenever she felt, as frequently she did, 'overwhelmed'?... She took to her bed.
Tensions such as these must have manifested themselves within the family unit. Why were the other siblings apparently less affected than Alicky? Possibly they were blessed with less sensitive, better to say, different, natures.
Also, I think we must keep in mind one of Princess Alice' major influences. Dr Strauss. Did he pave the way for other gentlemen who, decades later, entered and impinged their influences on the thoughts and life of her daughter?
Louis must have felt completely out of his depth in the company of a wife who, for example, played four hands, one piano with no lesser mortal than Johannes Brahmns.
From earlist childhood, Alix, in common with her sisters, was urged to 'serve'. Sewing = 'working'. At a very early age Alix was introduced to those 'in need' and to the whole concept of service.
However, I do feel the constant atmosphere of doom and gloom must have left an indelible mark. On the family's last holiday together - probably their one and only 'true' holiday of sand and sandcastles: paddling and skimming stones: donkey rides along the beach - even this was blighted by tragedy.
A Thames pleasure paddle steamer - Princess Alice - named in Alice' honour, sank swiftly in the river with huge loss of life.
Alice despaired. Not only for those who lost their lives and for their loved ones. She saw this as an omen. She believed it presaged disaster and, with her fateful nature, probably regarded it as a presentiment of her own early death. She was correct. The Thames tragedy occured in September. By December, she was dead.
Atmospheres and influences such as those outlined above, must have left a profound mark on the psyche of the young, troubled, lonely, insecure 'Sunny'.
It is my contention that Alexandra Feodorovna strove to follow in her, undoubtedly talented, caring and gifted mother's footsteps... to her own detriment. She wanted to be the mother she had lost.
I await with interest the opinions of others.
tsaria