(R-100) The Body Guard

On any state visits made by the Czar and Czarina, their son Alexi had to be carried by a very strong body guard. Normally, Alexi was carried about at the palace by his father, Czar Nickolas. This picture was taken about 1913 and Alexi was quite a grown up child and appears to be heavy. As any child, I'm sure he must have felt somewhat embarrassed to be carried about. As one can see from this picture, that the Emperor and Empress both look very somber and stoic, no smiles or vivacious greetings to the crowds of people who have come to see them.