BELOVED SON AND HEIR MISBEHAVING

By Chrissie Anne Romanoff

Tsar Nicholas II with his baby heir Alexei
Tsar Nicholas II with his baby heir Alexei

Although little Tsesarevich Alexei had an angelic face, just like any other child he loved getting into mischief. When he was about 5 years old he got bored at a fancy palace dinner. So what would any little boy do? Well, he crawled under the table and noticed a fancy slipper worn by one of the fine ladies dining.

Tsar Nicholas II with toddler Tsesarevich Alexei
Tsar Nicholas II with toddler Tsesarevich Alexei

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more BELOVED SON AND HEIR MISBEHAVING

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ROMANOV FAMILY PETS: THE ELEPHANT

 

ROMANOV FAMILY PETS: THE ELEPHANT

Tsarevich Alexei feeding the Romanov family pet elephant
Tsarevich Alexei feeding the Romanov family pet elephant

One of numerous criticisms by St. Petersburg society of the last ruling Romanov family was what they perceived as their frivolous waste of money. An example used was often the very costly upkeep of the pet elephant at Tsarskoe Selo, which cost the Russian imperial treasury a whopping 18, 000 rubles annually – a very significant sum at that time.

Tsar Nicholas II with the Romanov family pet elephant
Tsar Nicholas II with the Romanov family pet elephant

As a point of reference, the income of an average Russian citizen in early 20th century was about 4,300 rubles per year. Read more ROMANOV FAMILY PETS: THE ELEPHANT

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ROMANOV FAMILY PETS

     ROMANOV FAMILY PETS

Grand Duchess Anastasia with her dog Jimmy, Grand Duchess Tatiana with her French bulldog Ortipo, and Tsesarevich Alexei with this spaniel Joy. Only Joy survived the revolution.
Grand Duchess Anastasia with her dog Jimmy, Grand Duchess Tatiana with her French bulldog Ortipo, and Tsesarevich Alexei with this spaniel Joy. Only Joy survived the revolution.

All the members of the Romanov family were animal lovers, and each imperial child had pets: dogs, cats, horses, and even a pet elephant. The children even had a little pet cemetery where they buried their beloved animals, which was located on the Children’s Island in the Alexander Park. They visited it often and brought fresh flowers… Read more ROMANOV FAMILY PETS

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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. Read more ROMANOV GRAND DUCHESSES: THEIR LOVE OF CHILDREN

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IMPERIAL LIFE IN LIVADIA PRIOR TO THE WAR (1913).

Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia with Empress Alexandra and some officers, in Livadia. Photo credit: ГА РФ, ф. 640 оп. 3 д. 25 л. 2 об. фото 36
Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia with Empress Alexandra and some officers, in Livadia. Photo credit: ГА РФ, ф. 640 оп. 3 д. 25 л. 2 об. фото 36

From Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna’s 1913 diary: Read more IMPERIAL LIFE IN LIVADIA PRIOR TO THE WAR (1913).

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