ON THIS DATE IN THEIR OWN WORDS: MARIA ROMANOV- 9 MARCH, 1916.

Maria Romanov with her sister Anastasia at their infirmary, posing with the wounded. This 1916 photo was hand-colorized by one of the grand duchesses.

1916 letter from Maria Romanov to Nicholas II:

9 March. My dear darling Papa! Today is Spring already, but it’s 7 [degrees below] here and snowing with wind. Completely unacceptable. [I] just finished breakfast. Olga and Tatiana are going to Petrograd for charities and committee, and will have tea at Grandmama’s, and will also stop by Aunt Ksenia’s who feels terrible and does not leave the house. I will now go to our infirmary with A. Nikolai Dmitrievich [Demenkov] bade farewell to Mama. Before that, the regiment had a goodbye party for him in the evening at 7 o’clock, which only ended at 5 in the morning, so Resin looked rather sad, and when he was leaving the room [he] almost knocked over a vase with flowers, and his voice was not very nice either. But N.D. himself was very charming. I have not seen him since then, and don’t even expect to anymore. Right now Anastasia is sitting here and playing the balalaika. Well so long, my dear. I kiss you affectionately and apologize for a boring letter. Your Kazanetz. May Christ be with you. +

From the book MARIA and ANASTASIA: The Youngest Romanov Grand Duchesses In Their Own Words: Letters, Diaries, Postcards.