Grand Duchesses Xenia (1875-1960) and Olga (1882-1960), sisters of Nicholas II

[Cory]

Why Grand Duchess Olga lived such a retreat life in the last years?

[AristoCat]

It was probably smart of her since the Communists were likely still afoot, ready to kill every Romanov they could get their hands on. Second, Olga apparently never liked court life since her husband wasn't accepted by her mother, plus Olga had been stuck serving as a companion of her mother, following her around on her travels. If I were Olga I would be more than happy to get away and live my own life.

[Vasillisos Markos]

Originally Posted by Cory

Why Grand Duchess Olga lived such a retreat life in the last years?

My dear Cory,

Olga helped a number of Russian expatriates during World War II while she lived in Denmark. Olga would have been very happy to continue living in Denmark after the war but being so close to the Soviet Union and with the Soviets making noises about her helping people flee that country. she decided to leave and move to Canada.

The poster above is quite right that Olga was not enamored of court life. I read that shortly before Olga died in 1960, Queen Elizabeth II visited Canada and Olga was invited to a luncheon aboard the royal yacht Britannia. Protocol required that she buy a hat but Olga hated wearing hats. However, Olga purchased a hat to go with her new dress but her first action after disembarking from the yacht was to fling the new hat into the water. Olga must have been quite the character.

[AristoCat]

Olga must have been quite the character.

All the Romanovs were when you think about it.

[Cory]

I suppose Grand Duchess Olga was very different from her sister Xenia.Mr Koulikovsky's wife did not really enjoyed the public life.