A letter from Grandmama, Queen Marie. Dated 1889
I heard the most joyful news of that you are expecting a child! How you must name it once it is born after me or dear Catherine (Yekaterina).
Is dear Sergei treating you well? However, I am really here to write of the marriage between Maria of De Sol Valley and your brother, Alfred. Of course little Anne (Princess Marie of Widenburg, Queen Maria of De Sol Valley) just cannot agree with Herman about such a marriage. Unfortunate, I really do like Maria.
Please write back dear Alice, I do hope once the child is born to come visit your dear loving grandmama in Windenburg! Your grandpapa would have loved to seen you now, such shame!
Your old and most loving and affectionate, Grandmama
Another letter from Dear Grandmama, dated 1889
Dear Dagmar (Alice's aunt, Marie's youngest daughter) had come to luncheon with Heinrich (her husband) and those little children. They have grown very much, and more out of control than ever!
However, Dagmar was informing me that the imperial court have been advising you to take such matters in order to have a son, I say no such nonsense exists! Do not listen to such ill informed men! I was blessed to have your dear papa first then Anne, however Catherine (Yekaterina) had told me the troubles she did endure of having four daughters, this is of course back in 1863 on her visit to us. That court is absolutely the hell on earth from its rules to its splendour, how I should have denied your marriage into the Khovanskis! I have a terrible bad sense for their fate as a family.
Do not worry yourself, dear, and take much rest, dear and I don't listen to them, man or woman trying to get a son, either is a blessing, Alice.
Your affectionate, dear old Grandmama
Queen Marie of Widenburg at the wedding of Emperor Dmitrievich and Grand Duchess Alice, 1889
Information of the relationship between Queen Marie of Widenburg and Grand Duchess Alice
Grand Duchess Alice, formally Princess Alice is a granddaughter of Queen Marie, and a favourite amongst the grandchildren of Queen Marie.
Marie has had a close relationship with her granddaughter, especially after the death of her husband, Alice's grandfather, Prince Frederick of Widenburg in 1886, when Alice was 14. Alice and Marie didn't meet an agreement at first of marriage when Alice mentioned at a luncheon with the Queen in 1887. Marie dismissed it all, due to her granddaughter still being 15, however Alice would give her grandmother a hard time between 1887 upto 1889. The Queen wanting her granddaughter to be happy agreed upon the marriage along with her son, Crown Prince Herman. At 18, Princess Alice married the Emperor of Willow Creek.
The Queen has been reporting on news from Widenburg to her granddaughter and discussing marriage potentials between her other grandchildren and royals, Alice's cousin.
