Like many families of their day, that of Nicholas II and the Empress Alexandra were inveterate amateur photographers. None of them terribly adept, they made up for a lack of skill with volume; many, many private family scrapbooks were filled with their efforts. These faded and worn photographs of the last tsaritsa of Russia look to have been later removed from just such a scrapbook. Most likely taken by one or another of her four daughters, they catch their mother in unguarded moments, dressed and prepared for a grand event - the like of which was always such a great trial for the Empress - or merely sitting in the sun.
I've never private seen photos like this of the royal family. They are very moving.
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