As a very young child Alix was nicknamed 'Sunshine' or 'Sunny' by her mother.



Her life changed completely in 1978 when Diphtheria struck the family. The eldest Victoria had it first then it spread to all the other children, Alix, Marie, Irene and Ernest. Then the Grand Duke came down with it. The only one of the children not to infected was Elizabeth (Ella) as she was away from the family house. Alix's youngest sibling Marie died on 15 November and almost a month later her mother Alice died from it. Most of the children's toys and clothing was destoyed due to fear of the infection. Later Alix described her childhood before the deaths of her mother and sister as "unclouded, happy babyhood, of perpetual sunshine, then of a great cloud."





Even though her marriage was a happy one she wasn't able to produce the longed for male child and even then the dreaded haemophilia blighted the life of Alix and her family. I feel it's no wonder she crumbled under all that pressure.

Alix and Nicky, with baby Olga, on a visit to her Grandmother at Balmoral. Her eyes always effect me. Such saddness.