In 1906, Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russia, the second eldest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra, was photographed with Lili Dehn, a close companion and friend to the Romanov family. Lili Dehn was a German-born woman who became well-known in Russian aristocratic circles after her marriage to a Russian nobleman. She became a loyal confidante and friend to Empress Alexandra and was often in the company of the royal family during their private moments at their residences, including Tsarskoye Selo and the Winter Palace.

Tatiana, known for her maturity and responsibility, was often seen as a second mother to her younger sisters and brother, especially to her brother Alexei, who suffered from hemophilia. Her grace and composure made her one of the most admired members of the Russian imperial family. In this photograph from 1906, Tatiana exudes a quiet dignity, characteristic of the time and her position. At this stage in her life, she was beginning to take on more adult responsibilities, as Russia's political landscape was starting to become increasingly tumultuous.

The presence of Lili Dehn in this photo provides a glimpse into the intimate, personal lives of the royal family. Though Tatiana was surrounded by the pomp and grandeur of the Russian empire, she also had close, personal relationships that allowed her a level of privacy and normalcy amid the growing unrest. Lili Dehn's bond with the royal family, particularly with Empress Alexandra, would play a role in the family's later years, especially during the time of their captivity after the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II in 1917.


The Romanov sisters, pictured in 1914, were the four daughters of Tsar Nicholas II, Russia's last emperor. From left to right, they are Maria, Tatiana, Anastasia, and Olga Nikolaevna Romanova. Each sister had her unique traits and personality. Olga, the eldest, was known for her intelligence and sensitivity, though she could sometimes be unstable and rebellious. She had a deep love for history, politics, and poetry and was an exceptional piano player.

Tatiana, the second eldest, was the epitome of the perfect imperial daughter—elegant, reserved, and graceful. However, those who got to know her better saw her charismatic and charming side. She was particularly fond of fashion and enjoyed doing her sisters' hair. Maria, the third sister, was known for her sweet, angelic personality. While she had a beautiful face, she was also outgoing, lazy, and somewhat clumsy. Her dreams were filled with fantasies of marrying a soldier and starting a large family.

Anastasia, the youngest, was the mischievous one of the group. She had a playful nature, frequently pulling pranks and defying her tutors and governesses. Only her father’s orders could command her obedience. Known for her sharp sense of humor, Anastasia’s antics were beloved by her family, though she could be aggressive and mean at times, particularly toward Maria. Together, the Romanov sisters embodied a blend of grace, intelligence, mischief, and charm, making their lives both captivating and tragic.

As time passed, the Romanovs would face unimaginable challenges, but images like this remind us of a more peaceful and harmonious time in their lives..

In the year 1900, the Romanov sisters, Grand Duchesses Olga Nikolaevna, Tatiana Nikolaevna, and Maria Nikolaevna, were still in the early stages of their privileged yet restrictive lives within the Russian Imperial family. As the daughters of Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, they were born into a world of opulence but also immense responsibility. This photograph, capturing the three eldest Romanov daughters, reflects a moment of innocence before the weight of historical events would cast its shadow over their lives.
Olga, the eldest, was known for her intelligence and introspective nature. Often regarded as the most serious of the siblings, she was deeply empathetic and showed a keen interest in literature and poetry. Tatiana, the second eldest, was recognized for her grace and strong sense of duty. She often assisted her mother in various charitable endeavors, which earned her the nickname “The Governess” within the family. Maria, the third daughter, was known for her warmth and sweet disposition. She adored children and often expressed a desire to one day marry and have a family of her own.
At this time, the Romanovs were at the height of their power, with the Russian Empire stretching across vast territories. However, behind the gilded image of the monarchy, political tensions and social unrest were simmering.
The sisters, though raised with immense privilege, were kept relatively shielded from the harsh realities of the outside world. They were educated at home, learning languages, arts, and sciences, and were instilled with strong religious values. This early 20th-century photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of their youthful innocence. The three sisters, still unaware of the tragic fate awaiting them, embody a world that would soon be irrevocably changed.

In March 1899, the pregnancy of Empress Alexandra was extremely uncomfortable. The baby was in an awkward position that aggravated her sciatica; once again she spent most of the pregnancy in a bath chair.

On May 9, the family left Tsarskoe Selo and went to Peterhof to await the arrival of the new member of the family, who arrived mercifully fast. At 12:10 pm on June 14 , 1899, another Grand Duchess was born, weighing 4.5 kg (9.9lb). They named her Maria, in honor of her grandmother, and Alexandra soon happily breastfed her.

Nicholas showed no obvious sign of discouragement, his religious fatalism undoubtedly playing a role in his impassive reaction. "The Lord sent us a third daughter." He was resigned. "I am so grateful that dear Alicky has recovered so well,” wrote Queen Victoria, but was unable to overlook the serious dynastic problem that this entailed: “For the country, I regret the third daughter. I know that an heir would be more welcome than a daughter.”

The Romanovs at Sea: The girls attached themselves to certain of the officers; they held their hands when they went ashore and would sit alongside them in the rowing boats helping with the oars. Most mornings they would be up and on the deck at 8 a.m. to see the crew gather for the formal raising of the flag to the sound of the ship's band playing the Nikolaevsky March.

For their part the crew, who relished the prestige of serving in the Shtandart, loved the four sisters, and found them enchanting, as Nikolay Vasilievich Sablin recalled later in his memoirs. Such was the informality on board that the sailors addressed the sisters by name and patronymic rather than by title, and could not do enough for them.

From out of these first innocent, tentative acquaintances developed deep friendships; on that first trip in 1906 Olga attached herself to Nikolay Sablin and Tatiana to his namesake (no relation) Nikolay Vasilievich Sablin. Nikolay Vadbolsky was Maria's favourite, while little Anastasia took a shine, surprisingly, to a rather taciturn navigator called Alexey Saltanov. She gave him and everyone else the run-around, including her sailor dyadka Babushkin, rushing around the yacht from dawn to dusk, climbing up to the bridge when no one was looking, always dishevelled and difficult to control, only to be finally carried off kicking and screaming to bed at the end of the day.

Her phlegmatic sister Maria had a rather more relaxed approach to life on board. As Sablin remembered, she 'liked to sit a little, have a read and eat sweet biscuits', getting ever plumper in the process, no doubt explaining her sisters' choice of nick- name 'fat little bow-wow'.

The Romanovs at Sea: In 1912, the Imperial Romanov family, led by Tsar Nicholas II and his wife, Empress Alexandra, enjoyed a life of grandeur and privilege. The photograph featuring the Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia Nikolaevna, along with their younger brother, Tsarevich Alexei, aboard the Imperial yacht is a testament to this time of relative peace and prosperity. The family, often referred to by the acronym OTMA, were not just royalty; they were close-knit siblings who shared deep affection for each other despite their royal responsibilities.
This image is from a period when the Romanov children were still able to experience moments of joy and normalcy. The yacht, a symbol of the family's leisure, provided an escape from the duties and tensions of court life. The Tsarevich, Alexei, who suffered from hemophilia, is often seen in the family’s photos as a reminder of the delicate balance of health and vulnerability the Romanov family faced. Despite his condition, Alexei was very much a part of his sisters' lives, often appearing in their photographs, surrounded by love and protection.
The Romanov siblings were often seen together, united in their sense of duty and family. They spent their summers in the imperial estates, enjoying a lifestyle of luxury but also engaging in charity work and other duties. This photograph, taken in 1912, symbolizes a time when the world seemed far removed from the turmoil that would come to define the final years of the Russian Empire. Just a few short years later, the outbreak of World War I and the Russian Revolution would change everything, ending their reign and placing them in the tragic position that would ultimately lead to their execution in 1918.

 

“The sisters led most ordinary, uneventful lives : their exalted station never troubled them. With true courtesy they always made me pass out of a room before them, there was no ceremony, no fuss — they were the dearest, most affectionate girls, and I loved them all.

The Grand Duchesses rose early, and were soon occupied with their lessons. After morning lessons they walked with the Emperor, and between lunch and tea they again went out with him. They spoke Russian, English or a little French, never German, and, although they danced well, they had not much chance to do so, unless the Imperial Family went to the Crimea, then Princess Marie Bariatinsky always arranged a series of dances for them.”


- Lili Dehn, The Real Tsaritsa

Like her sisters, Tatiana was unworldly and naive. When her lady-in-waiting sent a carriage without an attendant, Tatiana and Olga decided to go shopping for the first time. They ordered the carriage to stop near a group of shops and went into one of the stores. The shopkeepers did not recognize them because they wore nurses' uniforms. They left the shop without buying anything, because they didn't carry money with them and had no idea how to use it. The next day, they asked Chebotareva how to use money.

Tatiana was closer to her mother than any of her sisters, and many considered her to be the Tsarina's favorite daughter.
"It was not that her sisters loved their mother any less," recalled her French tutor Pierre Gilliard, "but Tatiana knew how to surround her with unwearying attentions and never gave way to her own capricious impulses."

On 13 March 1916, Alexandra wrote to Nicholas that Tatiana was the only one of their four daughters who "grasped it" when she explained her way of looking at things.
Tatiana doted on her younger brother, Tsarevich Alexei. However, the long-awaited heir suffered from frequent, severe attacks of hemophilia. Tatiana, her mother, and her three sisters were all potential carriers of the hemophilia gene; the Tsarina was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, who had passed down the hemophilia gene to her descendants.

The Tsarina relied on the counsel of Grigori Rasputin, a Russian peasant and wandering starets or "holy man", and she credited his prayers with saving the ailing Tsarevich.

Tatiana and her siblings viewed Rasputin as "Our Friend" and confided in him. In one letter, 11-year-old Tatiana asked Rasputin to visit her and lamented that she found it difficult to see her mother ill. "But you know because you know everything," she wrote.

On 8 March 1910, the 12-year-old Tatiana wrote to her mother: "I am so afr(aid) that S.I. can speak ... about our friend something bad. I hope our nurse will be nice to our friend now."