ROMANOV FAMILY: ON THIS DATE IN THEIR OWN WORDS. CORONATION OF NICHOLAS II. 14 MAY, 1896. (FOOTAGE)

From the 1896 diary of Tsar Nicholas II:

“14th May. Tuesday. Grand, solemn, but difficult day, in the moral sense, for Alix, Mama and me. From 8 o’cl. in the morning were on our feet; and our procession moved only at 1/2 of 10. Fortunately the weather was marvelous; the Red Porch presented a radiant appearance. All this happened in the Uspensky [Assumption] Cathedral, though it seems like a real dream, but will not forget for the rest of my life !!! Returned to our [rooms] at half past two. At 3 o’clock walked in the same procession once again, to Granovitaya Chamber for a meal. At 4 o’clock it all ended quite well; with a soul full of gratitude to God, later I was quite rested. Dined at Mama’s, who fortunately survived this long ordeal excellently. At 9 o’cl. we walked to the upper balcony, where Alix lit the electric illumination on the Ivan the Great [Bell], and then the towers and walls of the Kremlin were lit sequentially, as well as the opposite embankment and Zamoskvorechye. [We] went to bed early.”