Nicholas and Alix's reaction to her birth/Did the Tsar cry?

[Olishka Romanova]

I agree with Grand Duchess Ally that it was after Maria's birth that Nicholas that he took the walk, not after Anastasia's.  This seems more likely, not only because of the quote that Grand Duchess Ally posted that was said by Baroness Buxhoevden, but also I recall that around the time that Anastasia was born Nicholas had/was just recovering from typhoid fever (?) and so if he was ill or just recovering from being ill it doesn't seem likely to me that he would go off on a long walk. 

[Alicky]

One wonders how Nicholas would have reacted to the discovery that it is the male's contribution that determines the offspring's sex. 
It would have taken the heat off Alexandra who was suffering through these pregnancies and deliveries, though I suppose the end result would have been the same.  She had to keep going until the elusive boy showed up, but maybe SHE could have had "walk in the park" after the births of the last 2 girls, before facing her husband.

[Olishka Romanova]

I don't think that the issue was who made them female; Nicholas was not angry at Alix for her having four daughters.  The fact is that a male was needed to suceeed the throne.  Nicholas and Alix loved all their daughters very much, but in terms of succession, they were not "important."  I think Nicholas was just getting concerned about the succession when he went of on a walk.  I don't think he was disappointed in Alix; he still loved her very much and he loved their daughters very much, but as the Emperor of Russia he "needed" a son for the dynasty. 

I have always thought Nicholas was a wonderful husband and father, but at the same time he had to be the tsar, and I believe that this incident was one time when the two roles clashed a bit. 

[LadyTudorRose]

I still think they were glad to have a healthy little girl. Of course they had been hoping for a boy but I certainly think they were glad to have Anastasia. There may have been a bit of disappointment, but I think they loved her from the beginning and she was a welcomed addition to the family.

It certainly wasn't like situations in the past where parents became angry and didn't want to touch the baby girl like Henry VIII when Elizabeth I was born.

[Sweet_Angel]

I have read that Nicky took a long walk before seeing his wife and new born daughter Anastasia, but I have never read anything about him crying.

[Ally Kumari]

As I have pointed out several times, it was not when Anastasia was born, when Nicolas took a long walk. According to Sopfie Buxhoeveden it was when MARIA was born.

[violetta]

On this thread everybody has been writing about Nikolayy`s reaction to the birth of the 3rd and the 4th daughter. But it was Anna Vyrubova ( as far as I remember) who wrote abot his tears after the abdication. Alix Nd Nicky were longing to see each other after the abdication so when he finally arrived at Tsarskoe Selo she was running to meet him at the door like a young girl. After the meeting in the presence of a few courtmembers A & N went to a separate room to have a word and to feel absolutely free. It was there, when they were on their own, that he cried on Alexandra`s shoulder...

[RomanovsFan4Ever]

On this thread everybody has been writing about Nikolayy`s reaction to the birth of the 3rd and the 4th daughter. But it was Anna Vyrubova ( as far as I remember) who wrote abot his tears after the abdication. Alix Nd Nicky were longing to see each other after the abdication so when he finally arrived at Tsarskoe Selo she was running to meet him at the door like a young girl. After the meeting in the presence of a few courtmembers A & N went to a separate room to have a word and to feel absolutely free. It was there, when they were on their own, that he cried on Alexandra`s shoulder...

Yes, this is true.

[jehan]

And he also kept getting rather unhelpful letters from relatives who 'regretted the birth of another girl for the country,' such as George and Queen Victoria. It's not that he was unhappy at the birth of another girl, just that it was so expected he would have boys. And everytime it was another girl, everyone sort of went 'sigh...'

Queen Victoria died 6 months before Anastasia was born.  I highly doubt she was writing letters of any sort!  ;-)

But there must have been a general air of disappointment within and outside the Russian court, however much the birth of another daughter brought personal happiness to the immediate family.  As long as the succession was uncertain, there was a certain amount of instability around the throne.  I agree- a "sigh" was probably the general reaction.

[Ally Kumari]

Queen Victoria congratulated Nicky at the occassion of Marie´s birth, but also expressed her pity that it wasn´t a boy "because of the country".

[Yelena Aleksandrovna]

When the Tsar knew that his 4th baby was a girl, he felt so disappointed, he didn't
see her inmediately, he went for a long walk before, to accept the idea of Anastasia's
birth.

[Sarushka]

When the Tsar knew that his 4th baby was a girl, he felt so disappointed, he didn't
see her inmediately, he went for a long walk before, to accept the idea of Anastasia's
birth.

Please read back a few posts. As Grand Duchess Ally points out, that was actually Nicholas's reaction to Maria's birth, not Anastasia's.

[RealAnastasia]

I don't think that the issue was who made them female; Nicholas was not angry at Alix for her having four daughters.  The fact is that a male was needed to suceeed the throne.  Nicholas and Alix loved all their daughters very much, but in terms of succession, they were not "important."  I think Nicholas was just getting concerned about the succession when he went of on a walk.  I don't think he was disappointed in Alix; he still loved her very much and he loved their daughters very much, but as the Emperor of Russia he "needed" a son for the dynasty. 

I have always thought Nicholas was a wonderful husband and father, but at the same time he had to be the tsar, and I believe that this incident was one time when the two roles clashed a bit. 

Very well said! I share entirely your opinion. Nicholas II and Alix loved their girls and were not dissapointed when they were born. They needed a boy , since the laws of the Empire recquired one, but it wasn't their own choice at all.

And yes...When Nicholas went to make his famous "long walk" it was when Maria was born, not Anastasia...

RealAnastasia.

[Lemur]

In Nicholas and Alexandra it says on page 144 it was Anastasia's birth which caused him to take the long disappointed walk. Is this book wrong then?

It is not surprising he was not in the room when the babies were born. This was very uncustomary until actually the last 25-30 years or so. Even in the 1950's-60's men did not come into the room, not even the father. Usually only the woman's mother and the doctors and nurses were present, if even the mother was allowed. Some hospitals allowed no one.

[Ally Kumari]

On the contrary - when Nicolas himself was born , not only his father, but also Alexander II. was present in the room!

I believe that in this matter "Nicolas and Alexandra" is wrong. The original source for this information is from memoir by Sophie Buxhoeveden. In addition - Anastasia was born in early morning hours and Nicolas mentioned in his diary that thanks to that they had the feeling of calm and solitude, so it´s not likely he ventured somewhere. Maria was born at 12:10.