The Russian Imperial Romanov family (which included Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra Feodorovna and their children Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia and Alexei) were imprisoned in Alexander Palace following the February Revolution, then transferred first to Tobolsk, then to Ekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains. "One can only wonder what sense of responsibility he may have privately felt when he received the news of the murders in Ekaterinburg." The Romanovs in 1913: Nicholas II (r.), with wife Alexandra (c., l.) and children Olga, Tatiana, Anastaisa and Alexei. "George V very deeply and sincerely mourned the murders of Nicholas II and his family in July 1918," said Martin. Lloyd George’s government was willing to grant asylum on humanitarian grounds and because of Russia’s alliance with Britain in the war, explains Martin, but the king feared the rising tide of worker unrest in Britain, the same kind of unrest he felt was responsible for toppling his cousin in Russia. Much of this information, said Martin, comes from the 1984 biography by Kenneth Rose, "King George V." But when documents in the royal archives were opened to researchers, it turned out that George V was the one responsible for blocking asylum. The failure of the British government to extend asylum to the Romanovs was, for decades afterward, blamed on the then-Prime Minister Lloyd George. Most people attributed their resemblance to their Danish mothers." During the Russian Revolution, did Nicholas ask for help from George? How did George respond?
(Photo is colorized from a black and white print.) Print Collector / Getty ImagesĪdditionally, said Martin, "There were several occasions during the wedding in 1893 where guests approached one or the other to chat only to discover that they were talking to the wrong man. Tsar Nicholas II (l.) and King George V, who were sometimes confused for one another. There are at least two photos of the cousins together: One from George's wedding to Mary in 1893, and the 1913 picture of them in German uniforms, that attest to the strong resemblance. Photos of the pair of them together made the resemblance impossible to miss.
But George V very much liked Nicholas II as a man, and the feeling was mutual." They looked a lot alike. and Russia as nations had many points of potential conflict around the globe, and their overseas interests made them natural rivals. "They got on very well, personally," according to Martin. Underwood Archives / Getty Imagesġ909: The Romanov and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha families (the future Windsors) met up on the Isle of Wight for Regatta week and a naval review.ġ913: On the eve of World War I, the cousins met in Germany for the wedding of the only daughter of their mutual cousin, the German Emperor (Kaiser Wilhelm II). There’s even a photo of them wearing German uniforms, since it was common for royalty to wear each other’s uniforms and orders and medals when on visits to each other, says Martin. During the era, it was a courtesy observed among royal rulers to wear one anothers' uniforms during visits. Cousins Czar Nicholas II of Russia (l.) in an English uniform, and King George V of England, wearing Russian regimentals, during a visit to England circa 1915. Notes Martin, "Christian IX is sometimes known as the 'Father-in-Law' of Europe,' because his children ruled or married into families that ruled in four European monarchies (Denmark, Greece, the UK and Russia)." Did George and Nicholas know each other?ġ894: When Alexander III died (Nicholas' father and George V's uncle), George attended the funeral in St. George V was Queen Victoria's grandson, and grandfather to the future Elizabeth II. From back l.: George, Mary (holding Prince John), Prince George, Prince Edward, and Prince Albert (later Geoge VI). George V and his family during a visit to Abergeldie, circa 1906. George's royal house had actually been the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, but after 1917 the name was changed to Windsor, when German names were not very popular among the British (see: World War I). Dagmar wed Russian Emperor Alexander III in 1866 and had Nicholas Alexandra married Edward, Prince of Wales, who became Edward VII, in 1863, and had George. George's mother Alexandra and Nicholas' mother Dagmar were daughters of King Christian IX of Denmark.