delicate-flowers-of-the-past: June 26th 2017 marks the 118th birthday of Grand Duchess Maria Nikolae
delicate-flowers-of-the-past: June 26th 2017 marks the 118th birthday of Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia. “A happy day: the Lord sent us a third daughter - Maria, who was safely born at 12.10! Alix hardly slept all night, and towards morning the pains got stronger. Thank God it was all over quite quickly! My darling felt well all day and fed the baby herself…the evening was marvellous.” - Nicholas II June 26th 1899. “Marie Nicolaievna was a fine girl, tall for her age, and a picture of glowing health and colour. She had large and beautiful grey eyes. Her tastes were very simple, and with her warm heart she was kindness itself. Her sisters took advantage somewhat of her good nature, and called her “fat little bow-wow.” She certainly had the benevolent and somewhat gauche devotion of a dog.” - Pierre Gillard -- source link