Second daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, Grand Duchess Tatiana was one of the five tragic Romanov children who today stand for the innocence lost on the part of aristocracy in the turbulent times of the Russian revolution and civil war. In her life Tatiana was said to be introverted and reserved, dutiful, humble and with great need to look after others. From the earliest age she was her mother´s confidant and often managed her younger siblings, for which she was teasingly nicknamed “The Governess”.
Her most glorious moments, however, came during the Great War. She was only 17 years old, but pleaded to be allowed to train as a Sister of Mercy, and subsequently went on to become a capable nurse in one of the palace hospitals, never avoiding any task from changing bed linen, dressing open wounds to cleaning the operation room. Level-headed, hard-working and deeply devout, Tatiana Nikolaevna seemed to have found her calling in the care of the wounded and sick.
On her birthday, let us spare a thought for Tatiana Nikolaevna - the young woman who was always ready to serve and help others.
