Nicholas II of Russia with his family (left to right): Olga, Maria, Nicholas II, Alexandra Fyodorovna, Anastasia, Alexei, and Tatiana - Livadiya, Crimea 1913 (Image - Wikipedia, public domain)
Tsar Nicholas II was King George V's cousin, his wife, the Tsarina Alexandra of Hesse, was Queen Victoria's granddaughter.
King George V and Prime Minister Lloyd George, initially offered asylum to the Russian Royal Family after Tsar Nicholas II abdicated in March 1917. Soon after the abdication, a provisional Russian government was formed to replace the Tsar which was in favour of allowing the Tsar and his family to leave Russia and live in exile in Britain.
With WWI in full swing, the fall of the Russian Tsars was widely welcomed by war-weary Britons, with many socialists regarding Tsar Nicholas II as a tyrant. In the weeks following the abdication, resentment was growing in Britain towards the British Royal Family. After initially offering the Romanovs asylum in England King George had a change of heart. He became concerned that if the Tsar and his family came to Britain an uprising, similar to that which toppled the Tsar, could happen here and topple the British royal family.
The Daily Express reports:
Arthur Balfour, Britain's Foreign Secretary, consequently capitulated and wrote to Lloyd George, advising the Prime Minister to withdraw the offer of asylum, which in turn sealed the fate of the Russian royal family.
Tsar Nicholas and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks on July 16 1918 in Ekaterinburg.
To put it bluntly, “George consigned the House of Romanov to history and his cousin Nicholas to the firing squad in order that the House of Windsor should survive.”
George wrote in his diary: "It was a foul murder. I was devoted to Nicky, who was the kindest of men, and a thorough gentleman who loved his country and people."
The following year, Nicholas's mother Maria Feodorovna and other members of the extended Russian imperial family were rescued from Crimea by a British warship.
Below - the execution of the Romanovs, from the film - The Romanovs: An Imperial Family.
Tsar Nicholas II and King George V were cousins, Berlin 1913 (Image - Wikipedia)
King George V and Prime Minister Lloyd George, initially offered asylum to the Russian Royal Family after Tsar Nicholas II abdicated in March 1917. Soon after the abdication, a provisional Russian government was formed to replace the Tsar which was in favour of allowing the Tsar and his family to leave Russia and live in exile in Britain.
With WWI in full swing, the fall of the Russian Tsars was widely welcomed by war-weary Britons, with many socialists regarding Tsar Nicholas II as a tyrant. In the weeks following the abdication, resentment was growing in Britain towards the British Royal Family. After initially offering the Romanovs asylum in England King George had a change of heart. He became concerned that if the Tsar and his family came to Britain an uprising, similar to that which toppled the Tsar, could happen here and topple the British royal family.
The Daily Express reports:
In a newly uncovered letter, it has been revealed that King George instructed Lord Stamfordham to write to the then Foreign Secretary, Arthur Balfour, outlining his growing concerns surrounding the potential arrival of the Russian Tsar in Britain.
The letter, sent from Lord Stamfordham to Arthur Balfour on April 6 1917, said: “Every day the King is becoming more concerned about the question of the Emperor and Empress of Russia coming to this country.
A second letter, dated the same day, added: “There is evidence in this country that the ex-Emperor and Empress coming to this country would be resented by the public.
“The opposition to them coming here is so strong that we must be allowed to withdraw from the consent previously given to the Russian government’s proposal.”
It had previously been believed the Prime Minister, Lloyd George, had decided to withdraw the offer of asylum to the House of Romanov following an initial request from the Russian government, but Lord Stamfordham’s letter indicates that it was King George himself who was pivotal in the decision.King George was a constitutional monarch who was supposed to heed the advice of his ministers. Instead, he pressured the government to withdraw the offer of asylum to the Tsar and his family.
Arthur Balfour, Britain's Foreign Secretary, consequently capitulated and wrote to Lloyd George, advising the Prime Minister to withdraw the offer of asylum, which in turn sealed the fate of the Russian royal family.
Tsar Nicholas and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks on July 16 1918 in Ekaterinburg.
To put it bluntly, “George consigned the House of Romanov to history and his cousin Nicholas to the firing squad in order that the House of Windsor should survive.”
The Grand Duchess Anastasia, aged about 13, persistent rumours of her possible escape circulated after her death (Image - Wikipedia)
George wrote in his diary: "It was a foul murder. I was devoted to Nicky, who was the kindest of men, and a thorough gentleman who loved his country and people."
The following year, Nicholas's mother Maria Feodorovna and other members of the extended Russian imperial family were rescued from Crimea by a British warship.
Below - the execution of the Romanovs, from the film - The Romanovs: An Imperial Family.
