Alexandra & Nicholas and their Uncle Edward & Aunt Alix

[Terence]

Reading Griffh's latest interesting posts of the Imperial couple's correspondence brought a question to mind.  There was a reference and photos of a visit between the 2 royal couples.  I know of all the inter-relationships, that even Nicholas and Alexandra were not too distant cousins, but it brought to mind the fact that his aunt married her uncle.
Is there any record of what Edward VII and Alexandra thought of Alexandra and Nicholas?  I've seen references of other relation's opinions, but nothing from them that I can recall.
TIA for any info provided.
T

[Clemence]

What impressed me while I watched an episode of ''Edward The King'' was that Alix the princess of Wales seemed absent during the visit of the Russian imperial couple at Balmoral. Does anyone recall if indeed Alix (the princess of Wales)was there or not?

[Kalafrana]

I think Edward VII was on good terms with most of his relations, with the exception, of course, of the Kaiser.

Alice of Athlone seems to have been quite fond of him, though a little disapproving. she quotes him saying to a young relation when in his coronation robes, 'Am I not a funny old gentleman', and then declared, 'He may have been old, but he was neither funny nor a gentleman'. Rather in the same way as she described Boris Vladimirovich as, 'Very agreeable, but he drank too much.'

Ann

[CountessKate]

What impressed me while I watched an episode of ''Edward The King'' was that Alix the princess of Wales seemed absent during the visit of the Russian imperial couple at Balmoral. Does anyone recall if indeed Alix (the princess of Wales)was there or not?

Yes she was there, and here is the evidence:



It's not a good photo and I can't get it larger, but it shows the two Alixes sitting side by side in September 1896.  However, she arrived late to the party and didn't stay at Balmoral but at Mar Lodge, her son-in-law the Duke of Fife's house - Queen Victoria's journal records that on the 24th September (the Russian visitors had arrived on the 22nd), "a little after 4 dear Alix arrived with Victoria, having landed today at Aberdeen, after having had a frightful passage from Copenhagen. She only remained a short time with me."  She is next mentioned on September 29th, when "Alix, little Louise, Maud & Charles came to luncheon. — Drove with Alix to the Dantzig, where we took tea with all the others. Then took leave of Alix & her children, who were returning to Mar." The next day, "Soon after 12, started with Nicky & Alicky for Mar Lodge, Beatrice, Arthur, Louischen, Thora & Franz Jos following us. All Mc Duff's men were drawn up near the house [Mar Lodge] when we arrived. Alix, Victoria, Maud & Charles were there. We had luncheon, almost directly, besides the large family party, Charlotte Knollys & Miss Forbes lunched. Sat in the Drawingroom afterwards & the 2 dear little girls appeared. Left again soon after 4."  She is not mentioned again although I think it likely she "dined en famille" on the Russian visitors last evening, October 3rd

[Kalafrana]

Edward wasn't too impressed with Nicolas's clothes when he came to London for George V's wedding. According to Massie, he took one look at him and recommended a tailor, a hatter and a boot maker!

Ann

[CountessKate]

Writing to his mother, Nicholas was unenthusiastic about the masculine activities on the Balmoral visit: "From the very first day my Uncles [the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Connaught] took charge of me.  They seem to consider it necessary to take me out shooting all day long........"  However, things improved when "Uncle Bertie left....for Newmarket where one of his horses won a race.  After he left I had an easier time, because I could at least do what I wanted to, and was not obliged to go out shooting every day in the cold and rain."

[Clemence]

Thank you very much CountessKate! Never seen this photo before!

Kalafrana, I would expect such a comment from the Prince of Wales)))

[Kalafrana]

The Duke of Connaught seems to have been someone whom everybody liked. Also, according to Alice of Athlone, he wasn't a very good shot, having deprived his brother-in-law Christian of Schleswig-Holstein on one occasion and near-missed the Queen of Italy's large feathered hat on another!

Ann