Figure 1.--The Russian rail system begn wuith a special train connecting imperial palaces. Here is the Tsarevitch Alexei in Sevastapol during World War I (1916). You can see the imperial train and colored carpet with vessels in the background. We are not sure why the carpet is not red. A reader has suggested that it is an issue with the colorization algorithum. As in other photos the Tsarevich is wearing a sailor suit, but here there is something unusual, he has a medal. We are not sure why he is barefoot. Seems unusual for a European royal. Put your cursor on the image to see a colorized version.

An Argentine reader writes, "As per the photograph of Tsarevich Alexie dressed in a sailor suit and barefooted, I have seen Romanov family pictures showing the heir barefooted while vacationing in the royal yacht Standard. I assume the young boy wanted to emulate the sailors he will see around him in the yacht, or as any other boy of that age wanted to go barefooted just for the fun of it. I am sure the Czar and the Tsarina were a little bit hesitating but at the same time they both made sure that the decks of the yate were extremally clean and smooth to avoid splinters or any other foreign object that could hurt the feet of the pampered boy. Maybe, Tsarevich Alexei was indulged to go barefooted on some other occasions. The picture you published seems to be taken at a railroad station." Our reader raises an interesting question. First it is imprtant to mention gthat there was an important reason why the Tsarevich was pampered. He had hemophillia which the royal family tried to keep a secret. The slightest bruise, let alone a cut could result in difficult to control bleeding. But our reader is correct, it is rare to see European royals going barefoot, except in beach scenes. Certainly never in railroad stations. Of course this rail station swas at a port where the royal yaughr=t was moored. We are not sure why Alexei was allowed to go barefoot. Seeing the Russian sailors going barefoot is an intraguing thought. This is not the only time we have noted Aklexei going barefoot, but only in a sailor suit which he so commonly wore. But ten again once past the todler stage, he almost always wore sailor suits, until well into World War I.

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Last updated: 4:49 PM 1/15/2023
Created: 4:50 PM 1/15/2023