These photographs display the Romanovs’ home life without pomp and ceremony. / Nikolai II with children. Family portrait in the park.

The very rare and intimate images of the last Russian emperor and his family have survived. They were taken by Anna Vyrubova, a lady-in-waiting of the Empress. / Grand duchesses Anastasia and Maria.

Anna Vyrubova (right) was Alexandra Fyodorovna Romanova’s lady-in-waiting, best friend, and memoirist. / Family friend and Anna Vyrubova, the author of the photos.

In January 1904, Anna Vyrubova was appointed as lady-in-waiting whose duty was presiding at balls and Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna’s outings. After becoming the Empress’ good friend, she spent many years close to the royal family. / Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna.

Anna Vyrubova spent many years as the Romanov’s photographer. Her camera captured both celebrations and regular life in the royal family. / Crown Prince Alexei and Emperor Nikolai II on the balcony of Alexandrovsky Palace.

The children, four daughters and a son, were raised and educated together in the Imperial Palace. / The Empress with daughters.

Nikolai II and his family spent most of their time at Alexandrovsky Palace (Tsarskoye Selo) or Peterhof. In the summer, they spent vacations in the Crimean residence, Livadia Palace. Every year, the tsar also had a rest on the yacht “Standard”, sailing for two weeks at a time along the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea. / Crown Prince Alexei.

Several photo albums have survived to our days to tell us about the royal family’s life. / Empress with daughters Tatiana and Olga, and son Crown Prince Alexei.

The Emperor’s only son inherited hemophilia, a disease that makes it hard for the body to control blood clotting, which is why every scratch causes grave consequences. / Crown Prince Alexei with his nurse, Alexandra Tegleva.

Olga was the oldest in the family. “Olga Nikolaevna was noticeably intelligent and capable, and studies were a joke for her, because she was sometimes lazy. She had a strong will, unassailable honesty, and straightforwardness, and in this way resembled her Mother”, wrote Anna Vyrubova. / Princesses Tatiana and Olga.

Nicholas II ruled from 1 November 1894 until his enforced abdication on 2 March 1917. / Emperor Nikolai II.

Nikolai II’s reign was marked by Russia’s economic development and a simultaneous growth in its socio-political contradictions, revolutionary movements that ignited the 1905-1907 revolution and the 1917 revolution. It also caused the Russo-Japanese war and Russia’s participation in World War I. / Emperor Nikolai II.