The Romanov family in the memories of their contemporaries

“Nicholas II stood up easily, with a military bearing; Alexandra Fedorovna got out of her chair unwillingly, her eyes flashing with malice. A detachment of Latvians entered the room and drew themselves up directly opposite her and her daughters: five men in the first rank and two – with rifles – in the second. The tsarina crossed herself. It was so quiet you could hear the rumble of a truck’s engine in the yard through the window. Yurovsky took half a pace forward and addressed the tsar: ‘Nikolai Alexandrovich, your supporters’ attempts to save you have failed!’ […] Yakov Mikhaylovich raises his voice and his hand slices through the air: … we have been given the mission of putting an end to the house of Romanov!” (From the memoirs of Mikhail Medvedev-Kudrin, who took part in the shooting of the tsar and his family)

Emperor Nicholas II (age 50 on the day he was shot) // “Like everyone, he could be mistaken about his resources, in the opinion of those who judge him so harshly now—he could be mistaken in his choice of the people around him. But in all the 10 years that I served him, in the most various conditions and in the most difficult days of the last decade, I was not aware of a single case when he did not respond with the most sincere impulse of great goodness and luminosity to whatever crossed his path.” (From the memoirs of Vladimir Kokovtsev, statesman)

Empress Alexandra Fedorovna (aged 46 on the day she was shot) // “Tall, with thick golden hair down to her knees, she was constantly blushing with shyness, like a young girl; her eyes, huge and profound, came alive when she was in conversation, and they laughed. At home she was known as Zippu, and her husband always called her Sunny.” (From the memoirs of A. Vyrubova, lady in waiting to the tsarina)

Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna (aged 22 on the day she was shot) // “Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna was a typical good Russian girl with a big heart. She impressed those around her with her tenderness and with the charming and kind way she dealt with everyone. She was precise, calm and strikingly simple and natural with everyone.” (From the memoirs of General Mikhail Diterikhs)

Grand Duchess Tatyana Nikolaevna (aged 21 on the day she was shot) // “Tatyana Nikolaevna, in my opinion, was the prettiest. She was taller than her mother, but so slim and so well built that her height was no obstacle to her. She had beautiful and regular facial features and resembled her beautiful royal relatives whose family portraits decorated the palace.” (From the memoirs of Baroness Sophie Buxhoeveden)

Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna (aged 19 on the day she was shot) // “She knew how to speak to everyone, and loved to do so, especially with ordinary people and soldiers. She had lots in common with them to talk about: children, nature, getting on with relatives… She was the heart and soul of the family.” (From the memoirs of Klavdia Bitner, teacher of the emperor’s children)

Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna (aged 17 on the day she was shot) // “She was a mischievous girl – a shortcoming which she corrected as she grew up. Very lazy, as is often the case with very capable children, she had beautiful French pronunciation and would act out little theatrical scenes with real talent.” (From the memoirs of Pierre Gilliard, French teacher)

Tsarevich Alexei (aged 13 on the day he was shot) “After another attack [of haemophilia – Ed.] the Tsarevich’s little face was transparent and pale, but his amazingly beautiful eyes were full of sadness. These eyes, set into his pale little face, shone with an unchildlike depth at that time and illuminated his features, giving him the expression of a child that has already passed beyond the bounds of earthly existence. It seemed that a strength beyond his years shone in their depth and helped him to endure these days of suffering and illness.” (From the memoirs of Sofia Ofrosimova, lady in waiting)