Gareth Russell eloquently describes the horrific massacre of the Romanovs.
Albert I, King of the Belgians, then grimly struggling through some of the darkest hours of World War I, was outraged by the execution of the Russian imperial family. He had long pitied Nicholas, but the news of the Tsar's murder roused the King to storms of indignation. According to biographer Charles d'Ydewalle, he raged: "Nothing could be held against him!" Albert was deeply troubled by the Russian Revolution, fearing the consequences for Belgium and Europe. Queen Elisabeth, for her part, while visiting King George V and Queen Mary, had the courage to reproach Great Britain, Belgium's foremost ally, for failing to save the Romanovs. By a strange coincidence, Elisabeth's grandson, the young King Baudouin I, would sadly ascend the Belgian throne, reluctantly replacing his revered father, King Leopold III, on the anniversary of the massacre, July 17, 1951.
2 comments:
Matterhorn, this is fascinating and very touching. I had no idea that Queen Elizabeth reproached George in England for his failure to help his cousin and friends - how wonderful! Clearly, King Albert understood the whole situation. Thank you for a lovely post.
Yes, Elisabeth's daughter Marie-Jose mentions the incident in her memoirs.
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