This eccentric person of royal blood in a difficult moment found the strength to leave her old amusements and work as a nurse in a hospital.
Women who are able to plunge headlong into the ocean of passions attract the eyes of novelists. It is about such a heroine that each of them dreams of for their work. But the followers of Juliet and Carmencita themselves have a hard life, especially if they are relatives of the powerful.
Childhood
Russian Emperor Alexander III was a father of many children. In March 1875, his wife Maria Feodorovna gave him a fourth child - daughter Ksyusha. After three sons, the girl became a pleasant surprise for her parents. The mother was especially happy about her birth, who immediately found that the baby was her exact copy.
The brothers also experienced a gentle and caring attitude towards their sister. The elder Kolya especially loved to spend time in her company. The heir to the throne did not have a strong character, because the patronage of the little princess and her instructions, which she gave, like her mother, often helped him out.
Youth
The family of the Russian autocrat was exemplary, but there was a romantic episode in the monarch's biography. In his youth, he thought of abdicating the throne in order to marry a charming aristocrat who was no match for him. This story excited the princess's imagination. From adolescence, she dreamed of great love, not subject to the conventions of court etiquette.
The Grand Duchess appointed her cousin Alexander to the role of the mysterious lover. Relatives called him Sandro, he was friends with the girl's older brothers and often visited them. Xenia admired his military bearing and the form of a naval officer. Her chosen one had already managed to take part in a circumnavigation of the world and often boasted of this. He reciprocated the girl, and for a long time their relationship was a secret. The imperial daughter knew that her parents would not mind her choice, but she really wanted adventure. The death of Alexander III in 1894 made people forget about entertainment for a while. The next year, the young asked for a blessing from the new ruler of Russia, Nicholas II. The brother could not refuse anything to his beloved sister and only wished her and her groom happiness.
Marriage
The magnificent wedding of Xenia and Alexander took place in Peterhof. The Grand Duke was just making a career as a naval commander and was dealing with the issue of strengthening the Russian fleet in the Pacific Ocean. The newlywed tried to create all the conditions for him to work, for which he thanked her with affection and gifts. Already in 1895, our heroine gave birth to her first child.
They could not stop looking at them - everywhere together, the kids went one after another. At first, Xenia herself liked it. The husband was attentive to her, all friends and relatives were moved by her kids. She admired her husband. He had an excellent education, he worked for the good of the Fatherland. Sometimes one got the impression that a woman had lost herself, trying to please her faithful in everything. This was her fault. Frequent childbirth did not benefit the figure of Xenia, the lack of interest in creativity or sports made her company boring for Alexander. He began to look for love affairs on the side.
Crazy
Sandro did not want to upset his Ksyusha, but she guessed everything. When the couple went on a trip to Europe, their behavior became the subject of condemnation in high society. While the Grand Duke sought solace in the arms of local beauties, Xenia indulged in even more dubious entertainment.
Gambling helped to dispel the melancholy of the young woman. Ksenia visited the gambling houses of Monte Carlo, visited hot spots. She craved risk, she liked the sense of danger. The personal life of this romantic nature turned into a tragedy, and with her nasty behavior she protested against the imposed stereotypes about the place of a noble lady in society. Her husband liked this very much - he gladly gave her freedom, he was even ready to give a divorce. But the Romanov dynasty could not be tarnished by such an event, the couple was asked to keep the formal marriage.
Sister of Mercy
When the First World War began, the emancipated princess could be appreciated. Ksenia Romanova equipped a personal ambulance train. She knew that many of the wounded die on the way to the location of the hospitals, so she decided to deliver the infirmary with beds and medical personnel directly to the front line. The brave woman herself participated in several of these trips, performing the work of a nurse. In the capital, she opened an institution that received the wounded and held them until they recovered completely.
Ksenia's fame and her contribution to saving human lives defended her during the riots in St. Petersburg. Her unfaithful husband, as soon as the Civil War began, fled to Paris with her youngest son. The Grand Duchess was able to leave Russia only in 1919, taking with her all her loved ones.
Last years
At first, the family settled in Denmark, but was soon forced to move to England. King George V gave them a mansion, but set a condition - Sandro has no right to enter the country. The famous ladies' man and coward would disgrace Xenia. She agreed not to accept her ex-spouse in the house, but she missed him very much.
In April 1960, Ksenia Romanova died. Her body was transported to France and buried next to the grave of her beloved Alexander. This was her will.
