XIX Berlin 6/V/I900.

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WWI Document Archive > Pre - 1914 Documents > Willy-Nicky Letters between the Kaiser and the Czar > Letters VI - XX (26 November 1895-13 June 1901) > XIX Berlin 6/V/I900


XIX
Berlin 6/V/I900


Dearest Nicky

In haste I just manage to write these few lines to thank you from the depth of my heart for your kind and dear letter you so kindly sent me through Costia[1]. Indeed I do so well remember the events of your coming of age and the ceremonies which accompanied it! How bravely you spoke your oath and how deeply moved your dear father was when he embraced you afterwards! How time has gone by! Now you too are ruler of a Great Empire and have children, and I have a grown up son! What a very kind idea it was of you to send Costia and dear old Richter[2] as well as the Gentlemen of your suite to be present at the coming of the age of my boy.[3] It makes me thankful and proud that you kindly take such an interest in the events which take place in our house, which is again a proof of the firm bond of friendship which we have inherited from our fathers and which, with Gods Will and help may never cease to exist! The ceremony of his taking the oath[4] on the old colours of the I Rgt. of the Guards was most impressive and very touching, the boy behaving most naturally and also very bravely before the great assembly of Princes etc. With thousand thanks and kind much love to dear Alix and the wishes for a good summer I remain

Ever your most aff-ate cousin and friend
Willy

P.S. Our grand maneuvres this year between Guards and II A.[5] Corps are near Stettin;[6] should you care to see some of it you could come with your yacht to Swinemunde and from there I could take you straight up the river to the town. W.

Notes

  1. Grand Duke Constantine Constantinovitch, the.Czar's cousin.
  2. General von Richter, chief of the German Imperial Household.
  3. The Crown Prince was eighteen years old on May 6th, 1900. His birthday was celebrated with unprecedented ceremony, the Austrian Emperor being present.
  4. After the service in the Chapel of the Royal Palace, the Crown Prince repeated the oath of fealty to the colors as recited by General von Plessen, who had placed his own helmet on the Crown Prince's head.
  5. Second Army Corps.
  6. The maneuvres between the Guard Corps and the Second Army Corps took place in Pomerania during the first two weeks of September, 1900. The Czar did not accept the Kaiser's invitation.

WWI Document Archive > Pre - 1914 Documents > Willy-Nicky Letters between the Kaiser and the Czar > Letters VI - XX (26 November 1895-13 June 1901) > XIX Berlin 6/V/I900