historicalroyalresearcher

λεξάνδραb welcome to my blog. here i will be sharing my historical royal finds, so photos, paintings, items, etc. please give credit if you wish to use the things i share, unless i say otherwise in my posts!!

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Princess Alexandra of kent by Cecil Beaton 1954

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Princess Lousie & her party, Canada

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Prince Arthur & friends sleighing

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John Campbell & Princess Louise, Canada

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Princess Louise, John Campbell, & Prince George of Wales

This photo was taken in Canada in 1883.

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Princess Alexandra of Greece & Denmark as told/described by those who knew her.

“One of my earliest memories is the death of my sister Alexandra after her son Dimitsi’s birth, A few years before, all St. Petersburg had been en féte for her marriage to the Grand Duke Paul of Russia; the wedding crown of the Imperial Family had never been worn by a lovelier bride.” - Prince Christopher of Greece & Denmark.

“She had the sweetest possible nature, and everyone loved her for her perfect naturalness, her generous heart, as well as her beauty; for she was, indeed, a lovely girl. In spite of the adoration she had from everyone, beginning from her father and her family, down to the humblest man in the street, she remained perfectly unspoilt. Everyone came to say good-bye to her, bringing presents with them, and although her presents from Greece were nothing like the gorgeous gifts that waited for her in Russia, she appreciated them perhaps even more.” - Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark.

“She has grown a little taller, lost weight, her figure is very slender, as sweet as ever, a slight blush has appeared, making her very beautiful – such a sweetheart.” - Grand Duchess Elisabeth Feodorovna.

“This was almost delightful, and Paul could not have wished for a better bride. And most importantly, Russia finally has an Orthodox Grand Duchess again. Oh! How happy I am about this, and I repeat with you, my God, how important and how good this is!” - Alexander III.

‘…I have learned the fateful news that dear, unforgettable Alix had passed away during the night! I couldn’t imagine this happening in reality; it all seemed like some kind of ominous dream! Oh God…’ - Nicholas II.

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Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich’s Palace

The English Hall

‘The palace was built on the Moyka in 1883-1885 by the court architect and interior designer Maximilian Messmacher. The palace does not stand here alone. Instead, a complex of buildings including a four-story guest house, a workshop, stables, greenhouses, and gardens were built. The front yard near the Moyka was separated by a gold monogramed wrought-iron fence. Messmacher made use of all pre-existing buildings on the site, thus significantly saving time and money. At the request of his royal client, Messmacher lent the grand residence the romance of the castles of medieval France.

The rooms of the palace were all designed in different styles. From the luxurious entrance hall you can go to the Rococo ballroom, the Red Sitting Room furnished in the style of Louis XV, a Renaissance style study with Baroque elements, or the Flemish Sitting Room with rich tapestries. The palace's largest room is the English Hall, also in Renaissance style. The Chinese Sitting Room is an example of late choiserie, with carved rosewood panels and printed fabrics. The eastern wing of the palace is crowned by a large tower with a spiral staircase of 120 steps.’

‘The interiors of the palace combined features of various style, with multiple artistic decor options and grandeur of art and sculpture. The bathroom was made in Pompeii style; the oak study featured carved wood and tooled leather; the dance room and the drawing room in rococo style boasted elegant molding and painted plafonds; the English (Knight) Hall displayed solemn portals and an intricate ceiling design. These rooms reflect the taste of the last General Admiral of the Russian Empire, gourmet and man of high society. Visitors were especially fascinated by the Main Dining Room, the pride of the host, who loved lavish parties and spent much time at them. Not surprisingly, much attention was paid to the decor of this room. The upper part of oaken walls featured ten panels by E. K. Lipgart in the spirit of Dutch genre painting of the 17th century. Of rare luxury was a large two-layer fireplace made of carved oak, with Dutch tile panels. The date of its construction was shown on the tile in Roman numerals: 1884.’ - SAINT PETERSBURG MUSIC HOUSE website

‘The palace's asymmetrical design with two distinctive towers and a set of exuberant rooftops is highly unusual for Saint Petersburg. Architect Maximilian Messmacher used a different style for each façade. The dining hall had a set of ten paintings by Ernst Friedrich von Liphart. The park was encircled by a wrought iron and stone fence.

The central gates are still ornamented with the Grand Duke's monogram.’ - Wikipedia

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Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich, Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna , & Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich.

“Mama gave birth to her fourth son, her last child, named Mikhail. He and Nizi (Nikolai), who were called "little brothers," remained together for a long time, like twins. They truly were precious to us, these little Benjamins! Every evening, at bath time, the whole family gathered in their nursery. They were the first to awaken maternal feelings in me, and besides, as Mikhail's godmother, I felt responsible for them both at ten years old.“ - Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia.

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Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia & her husband, Emperor Nicholas I of Russia

“If Mama wasn't exactly what they call a "femme d'esprit," she certainly had a keen eye for people and things, and her opinion, when asked about serious matters, was always astonishingly accurate. Her primary role, however, was as a loving wife, accommodating and content with her secondary role. Her husband was her guide and protector, enjoying her absolute trust, and the only thing that satisfied her vanity was the knowledge that he was happy. Had she succeeded in making him happy? Let my father's parting words to her before his death be that answer: "From the first day I saw you, I knew you were the good genius of my life.” - Olga Nikolaevna

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Tsarevich Alexei on a sleigh, 1910s

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Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna on her sister-in-law, Empress Maria Alexandrovna

“We slept in the same room. Even today I see her before me in bed, with her beautiful arms bare, in a nightgown that left her neck and shoulders open, and her lush chestnut hair loose. "Good night, sleep peacefully!" we said to each other, in which we had already begun to chatter time and again instead of sleeping; she had so much to ask me and so much I had to tell her. From the first day, sympathy and trust reigned between us. For me, she was a special creature as the future wife of my beloved brother; Now, to all this was added the conviction that she had surpassed all my expectations, she was so charming. My dear, sweet Marie, your memory will always remain blessed!.”

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Lithograph depicting an 1851 performance on the outdoor stage of Peterhof - St. Petersburg, Russian Empire - of the choreographer Jules Perrot (1810-1892) and the composer Cesare Pugni's (1802-1870) ballet La Naïade et le pêcheur (a.k.a. Ondine, ou La Naïade). The performance was given in celebration of the birthday of the Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna (1822-1892).

And a drawing by Charlemagne. Lith. by Barell from a book drawings of country buildings on Babigon, 1853.

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The 3rd Elisavetgrad Hussar Regiment uniform of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia

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Olga Nikolaevna of Russia, Queen of Württemberg, 1822-1892

“The second Grand Duchess, Olga Nikolaevna, was a favorite of the Russians; indeed, it is impossible to imagine a more charming face, one that expressed such meekness, kindness, and indulgence. She is very slender, with a transparent complexion, and in her eyes there is that extraordinary sparkle that poets and lovers call heavenly, but which inspires fear in doctors.”

“The most beautiful of our emperor's daughters was destined to marry a learned fool in Württemberg; la Belle et la Bête they said in town.”

“Olga Nikolaevna is very diligent. She already studies with me once a week and is always very, very attentive. She listens diligently, and what she understands, she does not forget... I only regret that I do not have more time: it is very pleasant to study with her.”

“—with regular features, a strong will and a persistent nature.”

“Femininity and angelic tenderness.”

“Tall, slender, blond, with a cameo profile and big blue eyes.”

“She was incomparably beautiful. Her husband was not handsome, but his face radiates common sense and kindness.”

“Olga is still very handsome as to features, figure &c. but she is a wraith wh. is a sad thing for one who was so beautiful & is so young. She is terribly thin & pale …Her manners are very dignified & pleasing.”

“Olga, always proud and dignified, bore everything with dignity, and performed her role as the wife of the future King impeccably.”

“The only one who is a queen.”

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Princess Alice & her grandmother Victoria, Duchess of Kent

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Rare photograph of Princess Alexandra of Greece and Denmark on the day of her wedding

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Danish-Russian-British Royals

featured, from left and right: future king christian x of denmark, princess victoria of wales, future king edward vii, future king frederick viii of denmark, tsar alexander iii of russia, grand duke george alexandrovich, princess maud of wales, king christian ix of denmark, prince albert victor, princess marie of orleans, future tsar nicholas ii, grand duchess xenia alexandrovna, future george v, louise of sweden, queen louise of denmark, future queen alexandra, empress marie feodorovna.