ON THIS DATE IN THEIR OWN WORDS: GRAND DUKE DMITRI TO NICHOLAS II. 16 OCTOBER, 1911.

Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich to Nicholas II:

Petersburg, 1911. 16^th October

My dear uncle,

How happy I was to get your letter, you cannot even imagine. Even my valet noticed this, and having glanced at me with hungry eyes, asked: “Did anything happen?”

Having read your letter, my soul felt so peaceful. Something dear and homey emanated from it, and for a minute I actually was speaking with you. After all, uncle, I have not seen you for a rather long time, and would very much like to. It has been three days since I returned from Paris, where time passed by wonderfully well. Only Papa was in a rather sour mood in the beginning of my visit, as he was not feeling well. Something intestinal! But then Papa became happy and pleasant again.

As soon as I arrived in Petersburg, I ended up at the panikhida for poor Strukov. Today I went to the regiment attire, we laid a wreath on the casket. Looks like we will not have to do the burial, as the entire Ulan regiment is coming for that. (For this occasion, I think it would be nice if I dress in the Ulan uniform – it was already ordered). All this I just mention by the way: it is all rather obvious and logical already.

I feel sorry for Strukov. A nice and sympathetic person he was. Always so energetic and healthy looking.

Your capitol, i.e. to be completely accurate – MY capitol, is not spoiling us with its weather. So sh..tty, that it’s such horror. Muddy, cold. It is especially obvious after Paris, where it was 14 degrees in the mornings, and the sun blustered with all its strength.

Well, I now embrace firmly my illegitimate mother (my bad, I AM the illegitimate son, she is not the illegitimate mother). I give a wet kiss to the children. I pull you, not without some respect, into my embrace. Your faithful, with all my heart and soul, except of course for my ass,

Dmitri