In regards to the heights of Alexei, Marie and Anasasia:
1 Oct 2007
Russian Newspaper: Intefax
Interfax wrote article on the new discovery in which the following is a part:
Since I don't read Russian, I have been told that this tells us that the Russians are indicating the remains of the female, Marie, estimated height is 160 cm = 5 feet 2.5 inches tall and that the male, Alexei, estimated height is 142-143 cm or 143= 4 feet 6.9 inches tall.
This following photo was taken 4/17 Oct 1916 and the girls are not lined up as they are in the next photo so heights are difficult to determine:
Nicholas II was said to have been 5 feet 7 inches tall.
About four months later:
This photo was taken in the Spring of 1917:
All the girls look about the same height as they were in the Oct. 1916 photo. Anastasia was the shortest.
Tatiana who looks about 5 feet 6 inches - taller than Olga and Marie
Anastasia - shortest of the girls and believed to be about 5 feet 2 inches
Alexei - 3 months later was said to be 5 feet and 1/2 inch tall. His height was recorded on the door of the palace which also shows the height of the girls.
BEAR's OPINION:
I think Alexei was close to his father's height and about 5 feet 5 to 6 f inches tall by July of 1918. Why? The average growith for a boy this age is 3.5 inches a year. If Alexi was 5 feet 1/2 inch on 1 Jan. 1917 then from 1 Jan. 1917 to 1 Jan 1918 he would have been about 5 feet 4 inches tall. Add another seven months and add another 2 inches and that would make him about 5 feet 6 inches tall.
His weight was probably more than 80 pounds because in one of the diaries we are told that Alexei was feeling better and his appetite had increased AND that that he was eating well. He still wasn't mobile enough to burn off any calories. By this time there was more starch in their meals than meat. Probably weight closer to 90 + pounds.
Since Anastasia was known to be about 5 feet 2. inches tall in 1918, we can tell by the photos that Marie was taller. Most think she was about 5 feet 6 inches. She was diffently taller than 5 feet 2 inches.
The estimated height of Alexei and Marie, as told in the news Interfax, [seen in above post] indicates they believe the two newly found remains are 4 feet 6 inches for Alexei and 5 feet 2.5 inches for Marie. If in fact the report is true, then, it would appear that someone didn't estimate the height of the bones correctly or it this is indeed accurate, then the remains cannot be Alexei's or Marie's.
AGRBear