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My diary, 1916. My whole family kept journals.	My English Notebook.
A painting I did.	A drawing I did when I was very young.

(Read more of my letters and diary entries on the Alexander Palace website )

17 May, 1910, Peterhof

My dear Mama! How are you feeling. I wanted to tell you that Olga would very much like to have her own room in Peterhof, because she and Tatiana have too many things and too little room. Mama at what age did you have your own room?Please tell me if it's possible to arrange. Mama at what age did you start wearing long dresses? Don't you think Olga would also like to let down her dresses. Mama why don't you move them both or just Olga. I think they would be comfortable where you slept when Anastasia had diphtheria. I kiss you. Maria

P.S. It was my idea to write to you.

10 May, 1911

My darling Mama! You told me you'd like to go to the holy communion. You know I also wanted to go at the beginning of lunch. I hope you will have a nice drive. When we come back from the private house, Mengden, the friend of Sofia Ivanovna [Tiutcheva, one of our nurses at the time], she looks like old Baba Yaga. I kiss you many times and Papa. Anastasia sends you a "kiss." How I would like to go with you to communion the 14. God bless you, Your Marie

Easter, 1912

Mama darling,I hope you did not forget that at Easter in Russia one must give the 'three kisses' to the people. Anastasia kisses you and Papa. I kiss you all too. Your loving, Maria

14 December, 1912, Tsarskoe Selo

My Mama darling,I thank you so very much for your dear letter. I am so sorry that your heart is still No. 2. I hope your cold is better. My temperature is now 37. 1 and my throat acks less than yesterday. Am so sorry not to see you today, but sertenly its better for you to rest. 1000 kisses from your own loving Maria

1913

[Mama was frequently ill as she got older, which saddened me to no end. Alexei's illness took quite a bit out of her, especially after the Spala incident in 1912... ] My dear darling Mama,You don't know how sorry I am that you feel bad. It is so awful to see how you suffer. You are [so] patient that I cannot understand. Anastasia kiss you and is sad that you can't come down, and wishes you good night. God bless you. Maria

21 September, 1914, Tsarskoe Selo

I congratulate you, my darling Papa, with victory. Today the four of us went to church with Mama. We had lunch alone and then went in the train with the wounded. We went to see Ania and had tea with her.

From there we went to the large palace infirmary. Mama, Olga and Tatiana went to do the bandaging. Alexei and I went through all the wards and talked to almost every soldier. Then Mama, Alexei and I went home, as Mama had a reception for the sisters of mercy who are leaving for the front. Then we went to the small infirmary, where Your gunner is a patient. There Mama and our sisters again did the bandaging, while Alexei and I went to see the officers.

The four of us had dinner with Mama. Alexei, thank God, is all right. I send you a big kiss, my own darling. I love you terribly.

Your own Maria

You have to take me with you next time, or else I will jump onto the train myself, because I miss you. Sleep well.

22 September, 1914, Tsarskoe Selo

[The Great War started in Auguest, 1914. This took Papa to army headquarters, where he could direct the battles, and away from us. We missed him terribly...] My dear Papa, I thank you most awfully for your telegram. I have just been to Alexei's to pray, but as it turned out Anastasia managed to pray right in front of my nose. What a gaffe! I have a cold sore on my lip.Your Maria

15 December, 1914

My darling Mama! How are you today? I hope that you feel better, after your rest. Ostrogorskii told that I will get up tomorrow but that I may not go out of the room, as I must have still the compress on. He will come in the morning. He told that the [illegible] are gone but that the throat is still red and that the glands are still swollen. I kiss you so very much. Your own loving Marie

Friday 6/19 May, 1916 - Diary Entry

5 of us went to church with Papa and Mama. Was congratulated. At lunch sat with Uncle Kyril and Igor. In the afternoon 5 of us walked with Papa along the railway track. Had tea in the train. Went to the picture-house. At dinner sat with Uncle Sergei and Uncle Boris. Returned to the train.

3 March, 1917, Tsarskoe Selo

[In 1917, we girls all got the measles. It was painful for us, and harrowing for Mama. Nastya and I were the last to succumb...] Dear and beloved Father! I'm always with You in my thoughts and prayers. Sisters are still lying in the dark room and Alexei is already bored with it so he is in the playing-room with the windows open. Today we moulded bullets from tin with Zilik and he was very happy. I spend nearly all days with Mama becuase I'm now alone healthy and can walk. I also sleep with her to be nearby in case something must be said or someone wants to see her. Lily [Dehn] sleeps in the red room near the dining-room on the sofa where was Olga. Dear beloved Father, we all greet and kiss You warmly. God protect you. Your Children

22 February/7 March 1918

[In 1917, our family was moved from Tsarskoe Selo to Tobolsk. To a friend, from Tobolsk: ] In the evenings we get together, to work or play cards-bridge or some other games, though I am not particularly interested in [card games]. Papa reads aloud. Pretty often, when all four of us get together in a proper mood we sing various nice songs. This always ends up with us loudly imitating zurna [a musical instrument] sounds. Some of us knock against the door or against any other thing that catches our eye in order to produce more noise... and we create a hubbub that can be heard almost all over the house.

19 April/2 May, 1918, Ekaterinburg

[In spring of 1918, Papa, Mama, and I were moved to Ekaterinburg while my sisters and brother remained behind until my brother recovered from a bad bout of swelling. To Olga, Tanya, Nastya, and Lyosha: ] Christ is Risen!I kiss you tenderly three times my darling. My health is better today, but am still lying down. The others walked for an hour in the tiny garden, and were very pleased. The barrel has brought water, so now Papa can have 9 litres for his bath before dinner.I rocked with Nyuta [Demidova, Mama's maid] on the american swing and walked up and down with Papa. Mama is lying on her bed today, she is a little better, though her head and heart still ache. We have been asked to make a list of everyone who will be coming with you. I hope we have not forgotten anyone. We have to explain the presence of each person who is with us. Oh how complicated everything is now. We lived so peacefully for 8 months and now it's all started again, I feel so sorry for you having to pack and arrange everything alone. I hope to have news of you soon. May the Lord keep you. Masha

22 April/5 May, 1918, Ekaterinburg

[To my sister, Olga, still in Tobolsk: ] Christ is Risen!

I kiss you three times in my mind, my dear Olga, and send you my congratulations for Easter. I hope you spend the feast quietly. Please give my greetings to everyone. I am writing to you sitting on Papa's bed. Mama is still lying down as she is very tired and has her no. 3 heart. The three of us slept in a cozy white room with four large windows. The sun is shining as it does in our hall. The window is open and we can hear the twittering of the birds and an electric tramway. Everything around is quiet. In the morning the May 1st manifestation took place and we heard the music. We are living on the ground floor, there is a wooden fence all round so we can only see the crosses on the cupolas of the churches on the square. Nyuta [Demidova, Mama's maid] is sleeping in the dining room and Botkin, Sednev and Chemodurov in the large drawing room. The prince was not allowed to join us, I do not know why and I feel very upset for him. They are sleeping on beds brought yesterday for both them and the guards. The house is owned by the Ipatievs. I kiss you tenderly and bless you my darling. Your old Masha.

27 April/10 May, 1918 - Ekaterinburg

[To OTAA, who are still in Tobolsk: ]We miss our quiet peaceful life in Tobolsk. Here practically every day brings unpleasant surprises. Members of the regional soviet have just been and asked how much money each of us has with them. We had to sign a paper. Since, as you know, Papa and Mama haven't a kopeck, they wrote down 'nothing,' while I had 16 roubles and 17 kopecks, which Anastasia gave me for the journey. They took everyone else's money into safekeeping with the committee, leaving them only a very little - they gave them receipts. They have warned us we are not immune from further searches. Who could believe they would treat us this way after 14 months of detention. We hope things are better with you, as they were when we were there.

28 April/11 May

This morning we are going for a walk, as it is warm. Valia Dolgorukov is still not allowed to see us. Greetings to others. I'm so sorry I was not able to say goodbye. You must be very sad to leave Tobolsk, such a pleasant house etc; I remember the cosy rooms and the garden. Do you play on the swing, or has the plank already broken? Papa and I kiss you lovingly my dears. May God keep you. I send greetings to everyone in the house. Best wishes and a safe journey, if you are already leaving.Your Maria

4/17 May, 1918, Ekaterinburg

[To my Aunt Ella, at Easter: ]He is Risen Indeed!We kiss you, dearest, three times. Thank you very much for the eggs, chocolate coffee. Mama drank her first cup of coffee with great pleasure, it was very good. It's very good for her headaches, and as it happens we hadn't taken any with us. We learnt from the papers that you had been sent away from your convent, and were very sad for you. It's strange that we should all end up in the same province under arrest. We hope that you will be able to spend the summer somewhere out of town, in Verkhoturie or in some monastery. We have so missed having a church. My address: Ekaterinburg, The Regional Executive Committee, To the Chairman for transmission to me. May God keep you + Your loving god-daughter.

Postcard to our Cousin Dicky, Prince Louis of Battenberg, Earl Mountbatten of Burma [Unsure of the date]

We wish you darling Dicky a merry Xmas and a happy 191- [?] Year. Much love to all.

Marie

Anastasia

1913 Watercolor.