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

[Russophile]

Though Minnie was a Danish Princess. It was hard for Denmark to manouver and nobody really wanted to leave Russia.

[Archduchess Zelia]

^^ Yes they almost had to force Minnie to leave her beloved Russia ...

[Russophile]

I am wondering why Sandro would be such a playboy on Xenia. I thought that she was a good wife to him. Any thoughts? (Besides, "He can." )

[Archduchess Zelia]

^^ I have also always thought that, but maybe he was like Edward 7. of England, and simply couldn't keep his hands of womens ... ?

[Royal Fan]

I Hear he was a bit of a bad boy at the start didnt she cheat as well also was Grand Duchess Olgas second wedding considered a Civil Wedding??

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by Royal Fan

I Hear he was a bit of a bad boy at the start didnt she cheat as well?

Most of the Grand Dukes were "bad boys". I'm currently reading "Michael and Natasha" by the Crawfords and they say that those closest in line to the throne were chasing after women, almost getting shot by cuckholded husbands, carrying on with mistresses, issuing off-spring who didn't know which Grand Duke was their father etc. etc.. . .

I am not sure of the Bad Boy at the start, but according to the Crawfords of "Michael and Natasha" after he had fallen for an American Heiress in France Xenia took a lover to spite him known as "Prince F." in her diary.

[linmarylou]

Can someone do a biography on GD Olga as they did GD Xenia on the first couple of posts on page 1? I find this so fascinating.

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by linmarylou

Can someone do a biography on GD Olga as they did GD Xenia on the first couple of posts on page 1? I find this so fascinating.

Or. . .you could get the book The Last Grand Duchess by Ian Vorres and do it yourself. . . .

[persian85033]

Originally Posted by COUNTESS

Xenia was charming and practical and had a wonderful family, six sons and a daughter. Alix was neurotic and shy and demanding. It was better that she had more daughters than sons, as her sons stood a great chance, as her one son did, of having hemophilia. She had no trouble having children, just more daughters than sons, which is the luck of the draw. Xenia and Alix were friends, but as time passed Alix walled herself off from most everyone, including the family, thus causing distrust from all sides. Xenia, also felt she had too much control over the Tsar and meddled in affairs that she should not have.

Alix kept pushing other people from her. Besides, was it Xenia's fault she only had one boy?

[Vasillisos Markos]

Alix was a troubled soul who would and did make a wonderful spouse to Nicholas but she was a lousy empress.

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by Vasillisos Markos

Alix was a troubled soul who would and did make a wonderful spouse to Nicholas but she was a lousy empress.

Copy that! They should have been Russian aristocrats or something else far removed from the throne. Nicky expressed interest in being an Englishman at one time.

[Vasillisos Markos]

And the royal couple's bedrooms, sitting rooms and the children's rooms were what a proper Victorian family would have enjoyed.

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by Vasillisos Markos

And the royal couple's bedrooms, sitting rooms and the children's rooms were what a proper Victorian family would have enjoyed.

Waaaay too busy for me.
Olga had simple tastes, it would have been interesting to see how she decorated would she have had her money and been able to finish her life out in Russia.

[pgm1952]

I recently found a beautiful documentary on Olga's life on YouTube called "Olga- The Last Grand Duchess" it is in six parts with two versions one with black bars on top & bottom (widescreen) and one without. The piano and waltz music in this film are simply beautiful.

[Vasillisos Markos]

Splendid documentary so far. I've watched parts I and II. Olga was not enamored with the trappings of royal life from what I've seen. Minnie did not want her to marry someone and live away from Russia, so Prince Peter of Oldenburg was found, a much older man, and one who the documentarians said was gay. Do you suppose Minnie knew this? I doubt it but maybe his gayness forced him to remain single until he was undoubtedly pressured to propose to Olga.

Who is the Alfred to whom Grand Duchess Olga wrote about her life in Canada?

[COUNTESS]

VM, have you read Xenia, Sister of Nicholas II, by John Van Der Kiste and Coryne Hall. Quite good.

[Vasillisos Markos]

My dear Countess,

No I have not but I will look for a copy. Van Der Kiste has written a number of books on royals, has he not? After watching the you tube clip on Olga, I realize I do not know much about Xenia or Olga. Russo dear recommended the Michael and Natasha book, which I ordered and am awaiting delivery. With the exception of poor George, I will now learn about the sisters and brother of the last Tsar of All the Russias.

[COUNTESS]

Yes, he wrote all kinds of books. Victoria's children, George V's children and a bunch of others. Michael and Natasha is very good, too. Also, try the Flight of the Romanov's, by John Curtis Perry and Constantine Pleshakov.

[Russophile]

Got Flight of the Romanovs on hold at the library. Thank you Countess!

[Grandduchess24]

Xenia had
Irina
Andrei
Fyodor
Nikita
Vasili
Rotislav

Olga had
Tikhol
Guri

But I would like to know if her children have any decendents because xenia's children are more known than olga's