Figure 1.--Four girls in a row, however, healthy were a major political concern. Nicholas was by all accounts a loving and devoted father and adored the girls. A boy was needed, however, to perpetuate the family line. Thus there was considerable relief when Alexis finally arrived (1904).Here are the five Romanov children. Alexis of course is placed at the center. He was 4 years old. The royal family were in Shkery, Finland during August 1908. The official photograph of the royal children was taken. The photograph shows Maria, Anastasia, Alexia, Olga and Tatiana dressed in matching sailor suits. Alexia appears to be wearing a heavy naval coat with two rows of buttonsand a sailor cap.

Nicholas and Alexandra were deeply in love. Whatever the political failings of the Tsar and the Tsarina's aristocratic outlook, in purely personal terms the two were extremely close. They had five children, four girls and a finally a boy. The girls were: Olga (1895), Tatiana (1897), Maria (1899), and Anastasia (1901). We do not know much about the four girls. Olga was the oldest and Russian society was obcessed with her future marriage prospects. Olga was interested in photography and as a result, we have many wonderful, intimate images of the royal family. These are not the formal portraits commonly produced by professional photographers outside the family. Tatiana was the second oldest. She was very close to Olga. She worked as a nurse during World War I. Maria was a fun-filled little girl. She was deemed to young to nurse during the War, but did visit soldiers with her younger sister, Anastasia. It is Anastasia that is the best known Of the four princesses. This is because after the family was killed by the Bolshevicks (1918), an imposter appeared claiming to be the Grand Duchess. Four girls in a row, however, healthy were a major political concern. Nicholas was by all accounts a loving and devoted father and adored the girlds. A boy was needed, however, to perpetuate the family line. Thus there was considerable relief when Alexis finally arrived (1904).

Olga (1985-1918)

Tatiana (1897-1918)

Tatiana was the second oldest. She was very close to Olga. She worked as a nurse during World War I.

Maria (1899-1918)

Maria was a fun-filled little girl. She was deemed to young to nurse during the War, but did visit soldiers with her younger sister, Anastasia.

Anastasia (1901-18)

Anastasia was the youngest of the four girls. She had areputation among the family as a flighty little thing. She was the closest in age to Alexei and the two seemed ton have had a very special bond. It is Anastasia that is the best known Of the four princesses. This is because after the family was killed by the Bolshevicks (1918), an imposter appeared claiming to be the Grand Duchess.

Alexis (1904-18)

Four girls in a row, however, healthy were a major political concern. Nicholas was by all accounts a loving and devoted father and adored the girls. A boy was needed, however, to perpetuate the family line. Thus there was considerable relief when Alexis finally arrived (1904). The ill-fated Tsarevich is one of the most famous boys in history. He was raised in a loving family, but because of hemophillia, had to even more closely supervised than was normal for a young prince. Alexis is perhaps best known for wearing sailor suits, but he wore many other styles as well. This page will describe Alexei and how he was dressed.

Created: 5:28 PM 8/15/20094
Last updated: 2:15 AM 6/9/2014