Princess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia - Family Relations

Family Relations

Xenia had a close relationship with her brother Nicholas II and his wife before they married. When Nicholas and Alexandra moved into the Winter Palace after their own marriage, Xenia and Alexander (known in the family as 'Sandro') spent the evenings together in the new billiard room. A source of gradual resentment grew up between Xenia and Alexandra due to the fact that Xenia had given birth to healthy sons, whilst Alexandra had four daughters and her only son, Alexei Nikolaievich was diagnosed with haemophilia. The robust health of Xenia's sons were a constant source of antagonism in the mind of Alexandra. It was only in 1912 that Xenia learnt from her sister Olga that Alix had admitted that Alexei had haemophilia.

The birth of Alexei led to Alexandra obtaining total control over her husband; Trying to find a cure for her son's illness, Alexandra fell under the influence of Rasputin. Like all her family, Xenia was highly skeptical of Rasputin. Family relations were strained. Xenia did remain close to her brother, who often visited when he was in the Crimea, walking with her nieces Olga and Tatiana; her sister-in-law visited rarely.

Apart from Nicholas, Xenia was devoted to her other two brothers, Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia and Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich. In 1899, George died from tuberculosis and his death, although expected, was traumatic. Grand Duke Michael married without the permission of the Tsar, Natasha Sergeyevna Wulffert. The couple were exiled as punishment. Xenia was willing to overlook this, as her own marital problems had made her more understanding. She received both Michael and Natasha in 1913 in Cannes in France. Xenia tried to talk to her brother Nicholas about Michael and was told that he could return to Russia at any time, but that Natasha could not. Xenia helped to restore relations between Michael and their mother, The Dowager Empress.