Romanovs and Relationship With/Visits To Foreign Relatives

[grandduchessella]

I don't know about Victoria. I didn't sound Orthodox but Ducky didn't have to change her name when she married Kyril.

[cimbrio]

Moving slightly aside from the main topic, why didn't Queen Victoria meet her great-granddaughter Viktoria Luise of Prussia? She was 9 at the time of the Queen's death, surely she must have enough time to meet her, or perhaps relations between Berlin and London were a bit cold then?

[grandduchessella]

I'm not sure why but I don't think it was because of any coldness--the Kaiser was always keen to stay on QV's good side and was a doting grandson proud of his position of one of only 2 grandchildren Prince Albert met (Charlotte being the other).

The info was related in VL's autobiography but she doesn't give a reason, just says that she never met her though 3 of her older brothers paid a visit.

[Shvibzik]

QV thought Olga was a "splendid child" and I recall reading her writing to VMH that Olga was one of "the most charming babies I ever saw" or something ot that effect.  At the birth of Maria, QV wrote to Nicky congratulating him but added that it was a shame she was another daughter.

Didn't she comment that Olga had a "big head"?

[lostfan]

Yes, Queen Victoria wrote to, I think, her daughter Vicky that Olga was a "splendid baby" with "an immense head!"

[grandduchessella]

[ilyala]

a little off-topic but i read - i think - in hannah pakula's biography of missy that alexander 2nd paid a visit to queen victoria when he was a grand duke and that she was smitten by him...

they met thirty or so years later around the time marie and affie married and she was sad to see how he grew old and how time changes everything...

[RealAnastasia]

You may notice the Tsaritsa in the second photo. She is welcomed for some important ladies from Dunquerke. I'm wondering if she enjoyed this trip.

RealAnastasia.

[cimbrio]

I've read that in K. Pleshakov's The Romanovs, a family saga" and Victoria fancied Alexander when he was younger (evidently they wouldn't have been allowed to marry for state reasons, not to mention religious reasons), and when she saw him later, for her son Alfred's wedding, she was shocked to find him so thin. She felt very sorry when he was murdered in 1881, saying "poor, poor emperor" and that he didn't diserve such an ending.

[katja]

I've read, that Alexei received (as a birthsday gift) the special cup from Kaiser Wilhelm with dedication:"I hope that "the little" will use it, when he understand, that the thirst of the man will not manage to put out only the milk".

[grandduchess_42]

Okay, I don't understand why everyone scowled/frowned/pouted/looked p****ed off in old pictures like that!  Why did they do that?  Was it to look dignified?  Although that sounds really dumb considering many pics of old fashioned people are candid (especially the IF).

i agree i'm gettting rather anoyed with it. i know there are a few pictures of the IF smiling. i know it was back then that they didn't smile but it would be way more fun if they did.

[grandduchessella]

She seems to have felt a little out of place though amongst the rowdiness and somewhat juvenile behavior and practical jokes. Mostly the visits tapered off after the death of Christian & Louise. Under Aunt Swan it wasn't the funnest place. She probably enjoyed seeing her relatives--like Toria--though.

[sailor_of_standart]

I have to say, I like the pic.  It doesn't matter that their not smiling.  I have to say that tatiana/olga who ever is sitting between Willy and Alix looks a bit shocked and desappointed that all she got was a doll.  And she is a bit to old for a doll.  LOL

[LenelorMiksi]

I think they probably liked the dolls, they're just trying to hold still for the picture.  Back then girls weren't expected to grow up and lose the toys until they were 16. This photograph is with a visiting monarch so the girls were probably a bit too nervous to laugh.  Nicky genuinely liked Kaiser Wilhelm, strange as that may seem, so I don't think the serious faces come from the girls hearing negative things about the Kaiser from their parents.

[darius]

I think that all evidence points to the fact that Alexandra couldn´t stant either the Kaiser or the Prussians. Her antipathy is evident in this picture.