ROMANOV GRAND DUCHESSES: THEIR LOVE OF CHILDREN

Grand Duchess Olga Romanov with her little German cousins
Grand Duchess Olga Romanov with her little German cousins

ROMANOV GRAND DUCHESSES: THEIR LOVE OF CHILDREN

All four Romanov grand duchesses loved little children, but Olga and Marie did in particular.

OTMA regularly went to visit the “Nanny school” – a local orphanage – and in Olga’s diaries we often see references to them playing with children, and clearly enjoying this.

It makes one feel very sad indeed to consider that these loving young women never lived to have children of their own.

Grand Duchess Olga, Grand Duchess Tatiana and Grand Duchess Anastasia with peasant children in Mogilev.
Grand Duchess Olga, Grand Duchess Tatiana and Grand Duchess Anastasia with peasant children in Mogilev.

From the diary of Olga Romanov:

“….[We] went to the Nanny school and stayed there until 12 o’cl. 45 min., played with the adorable little children.”

“…In the morning we 4… went to the Nanny school’s Christmas party. Played with the children for a long time. “

“After tea we four … went to [see] Count and Countess Apraksin, and played with their children.”

 

 

From the diary of Tatiana Romanov:

“In the morning 4 went to the nanny school with Nastenka and gave out presents to the children. Then [we] played with the children…”

“At 3 o’clock went to the nanny school for the Christmas party. Squeezed the children…”

Grand Duchess Olga and Grand Duchess Anastasia with peasant children in Mogilev.
Grand Duchess Olga and Grand Duchess Anastasia with peasant children in Mogilev.

“Yesterday afternoon we 4 went to [visit] Tatiana in Pavlovsk. Romped around lot with her children, all such darlings.”  

 

From letters of Maria Romanov:

“The other day we went to the nanny school and squeezed the little children who were already going to bed…”   

“Yesterday we went to the Nanny School and squeezed the children. There is this one refugee child, she is only two years old. Her mother died. She is so cute, but speaks Russian badly and calls her nanny Mama.”

“We are now making all sorts of warm clothes for the children who live in Mogilev across from our train.”  

Grand Duchess Anastasia with a peasant child in Mogilev.
Grand Duchess Anastasia with a peasant child in Mogilev.

 

 

 

Grand Duchess Olga and Grand Duchess Anastasia with peasant children in Mogilev.
Grand Duchess Olga and Grand Duchess Anastasia with peasant children in Mogilev.

 

Above excerpts are from the books below:

Journal of a Russian Grand Duchess: Complete Annotated 1913 Diary of Olga Romanov, Eldest Daughter of the Last Tsar

Tatiana Romanov, Daughter of the Last Tsar: Diaries and Letters, 1913–1918

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

 

 

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