NOTE: the 6th and final episode ‘Ceremonial and Service‘ was added to this post on 9th August 2023 – PG

The State Hermitage Museum has released 5 short videos about the children of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna: Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia Nikolaevna and Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich.

The series has been timed to the opening on 19th May 2023, of the exhibition “OTMA and Alexei. The Children of the Last Russian Emperor”, in the Manege of the Small Hermitage, in the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.

NOTE: all of the videos listed below are in Russian, however, do not allow that to stop you from watching this richly detailed series, featuring vintage newsreel footage and still photographs. You can still follow the gist of the audio in English, by doing the following:

[1] click on the YouTube link, located in the banner at the bottom of the video

[2] turn on Google Translator, which will translate the text only

[2] click on the close captioning option [CC] option, located in the banner at the bottom of the video

The closed captioning will appear in English on your screen, allowing you a better understanding of the people, places and events presented in the video.

Part 1 – Pages of life

Duration: 16 minutes, 46 seconds

Part 1 is based on the memoirs of contemporaries, historical photographs and newsreels, as well as modern video footage of places associated with the life of the family of Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna: the Winter Palace, the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoye Selo and their Crimean residence in Livadia. It presents “portraits” of the Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia and Tsesarevich Alexei, compiled from the memoirs of people who knew them closely. You will learn about the serene childhood and youth of the August children, their upbringing and education, about the family’s summer vacation in Yalta and about traveling on the Imperial Yacht “Shtandart“, as well as their participation in the official side of life: court ceremonies, military parades and Celebrations.

Part 2 – The upbringing and education of the Grand Duchesses

Duration: 8 minutes, 29 seconds

Part 2 focuses on the education of the daughters of Nicholas II – Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia, about their daily routine and what role their mother, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, played in the upbringing of the girls. The film is based on the memoirs of contemporaries, historical photographs and newsreels, as well as modern video filming of places associated with the day-to-day life of the Imperial family.

Part 3 – In the circle of the family

Duration: 8 minutes, 38 seconds

Part 3 explores the private world of the Imperial family, about the joint leisure activities enjoyed by the Imperial children and their parents, they books they read, what sports they were engaged in, their passion for photography and much more. The film is based on the memoirs of contemporaries, historical photographs and newsreels, as well as modern video filming of places associated with the life of the Imperial family.

Part 4 – Travels on the Imperial Yacht “Shtandart“

Duration: 6 minutes, 56 seconds

In Part 4 we travel on the imperial Yacht “Shtandart” – one of the most favorite pastimes of the family of Nicholas II – including walks along the Finnish skerries, enjoying their summer holidays, their day-today life and activities while living onboard their famous yacht. The film is based on the memoirs of contemporaries, historical photographs and newsreels of the life of the Imperial family. The State Hermitage Museum thanks the State Archives of the Russian Federation for the images provided for the film.

Part 5 – Rest in Livadia

Duration: 9 minutes, 4 seconds

Part 5 explores the day-to-day life of Nicholas II and his family at their Crimean residence Livadia in between 1911-1914: how the Imperial Family traveled to the Crimea, the celebrations marking the 16th anniversary of Grand Duchess Olga and the name day of Tsesarevich Alexei, their participation in charity bazaars, including the “White Flower Day”, in which Empress and her children took part. The film is based on the memoirs of contemporaries, historical photographs and newsreels of the life of the Imperial family, as well as modern filming of the Livadia Palace.

Part 6 – Ceremonial and Service

Duration: 11 minutes, 46 seconds

In the 6th and final part we learn about the duties of the Grand Duchesses and the Tsesarevich, who were trained from childhood to serve Russia. These include their activities and responsibilities as regimental chiefs, their participation in the celebrations marking historical anniversaries and significant events, as well as how their service to the Fatherland changed after the outbreak of the First World War. This film is based on the memoirs of contemporaries, historical photographs and newsreels of the life of the Imperial Family, provided by the State Archives of the Russian Federation.

© Paul Gilbert. 27 July 2023

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