Victoria Alisa Elena Louise Beatrice Hessen-Darmstadt - Empress Alexander Fedorovna, wife Nicholas II
This, of course, is one of the most "promoted" now female characters of the Romanov dynasty. "High and slim, always serious, with a constant shade of deep sadness, with protruding on the face of reddish spots, which testified to her nervous state, with its beautiful and stringent features of the face. For the first time, seen her hurt her greatness; Daily observed it could not refuse her in rare royal beauty. " (From the memories of G. I. Shavelsky)
Their wedding with the heir to the Russian throne of Grand Prince Nikolai Aleksandrovich took place 7 (19) of April 1894 "In Koburg with a large family congress: there was Queen Victoria with his two granddaughters, princesses of Victoria and Ma mod, Emperor German Wilhelm II ... Upon arrival in Coburg Heir I made a proposal again, but for three days, Princess Alice refused to give his consent and gave him only on the third day under pressure from all family members, "Matilda Kshesinskaya wrote in his" memories. "
Portrait of Alexandra Fedorovna. Photo: Garf Archive.
Even before the wedding, on the Orthodox custom, the bride was connected to the August groom to the problem of his toilets: "I attach [to the letter] three samples of velvet, because I can't decide from them, which of them choose ... Now choose you, whether it will be a pale gray mouse color or Yellow (or apple) ... Length from the front from the neck to the waist - 37 cm, from the waist to the floor - 111 cm. Here, Mr. Tailor, are you all clear? "
All memoirists constructed that the last Russian Empress was a loving wife and an ideal mother. But only close friends remembered her, as a woman who was characterized by their style, tastes, attachment, hobbies. Alexandra Fedorovna firmly remained a faithful system of upbringing, laid by another grandmother, the English Queen of Victoria. It was her individual scale of ethical and aesthetic values, which often did not coincide with the views and tastes of the St. Petersburg light. The case is known when during one of the first balls, where Alexander Fedorovna who had arrived in Russia, she saw a young lady dancing in the dress with an unusually low neckline. The Freulin sent to her handed over: "Her imperial majesty asked to report that such dresses are not worn in Hesse-Darmstadt." The answer was rather sharp: "Tell it to the imperial majesty that we have in Russia we love and wear such dresses!"
Dress Alexandra Fedorovna. Photo: Garf Archive.
No, she, of course, was not a "blue stock", but the rigor of views on "external decency" remained unchanged. Alexandra Fedorovna wore clothes of muffled pastel tones, preferring blue, white, lilac, gray, light pink. However, the favorite color of the empress was lilac. He dominated not only in her wardrobe, but in the interior of personal rooms. Empress's dresses preferred to order in the workshop of his beloved couture August Bryzaka, owner of the St. Petersburg workshop of the ladies. In the suit of a purple color from the "House Breezak" there was a state of a sovereign at night on the night of July 17, 1918, when she was led to the shot on the basement of the person of the merchant Ipatiev.
Among her majesty suppliers were also the famous St. Petersburg Jeweler Karl Faberge. In particular, he was ordered in the summer of 1895. A set of knitting hooks for Alexandra Fedorovna, about which he was interested in Camera Frau Empress M. Geringer: "A freeing sovereign! I ask you to notify me as soon as the Majesty wishes to have these knitting hooks: a couple or one, with stones whether only a gold jewelry, which line, etc. Your humble servant K. Faberge. " (Avnopography and punctuation of the author's note - auth.)
The whole family of Alexandra Fedorovna passionately fond of photography. Photo: Alexander Dobrovolsky.
"As far as I know, Alix was quite indifferent to the precious decorations, with the exception of the pearls, which she had a lot, but the court gossips claimed that she was indignant by the fact that it is not possible to wear all the rubies, pink diamonds, emeralds and sapphires that were kept In the box of my mother (the widowing empress of Mary Fedorovna - Avt.). " ("Memories" of the Great Princess Olga Aleksandrovna)
Photo Alexandra Fedorovna, gluing pictures in a personal album. Photo: Alexander Dobrovolsky.
The whole family of Alexandra Fedorovna passionately fond of photography. Photographed their loved ones and acquaintances while traveling, relaxing in Livadia and Finnish Schkers, in the beloved Alexander Palace in the royal village ... Even an amateur photo was preserved at which it is possible to see the Empress in the home environment engaged in inciting photos to a personal album. Another "hobby" of Her Majesty was a big tennis. "... then I rested on the balcony at the top, after that I played tennis from 3 to 5. The heat was just a murder, the brain is simply in an idiocy state. Today I really played well. " (From the letter to Nikolai II June 1900)