visit the hospital at Tsarskoe Selo
My obsession focuses on Marie and the youngest sister, Shvybz- best known to the world as Anastasia but at home, "the imp". The girls were very different but I do feel that Marie would have been protective of her . They did tease each other- Marie was kidded about her tiny bit of baby fat- "Fat Bow Wow" and Anastasia was observed making faces and worse- "digging in her nose"- the truth was they were young girls- interested in the handsome officers on the yacht, the Imperial guards, and in playing with their dogs. It's always said the girls were so beautiful and in truth, they appeared that way but the great beauties were Tatiana and Marie. Shvybz was endearingly "funny looking" and Olga could look stern...
Alexandra was quite critical of Marie and Anastasia- especially for being a bit thick at the waist. I think it's important to see the OTMA as real girls- it doesn't diminish their tragedy- they were distinctly human with all the idiosyncrasies of teenage girls.