Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Crisco edit letters removed. Persistent rumors of her possible escape circulated after her death, fueled by the fact that the location of her burial was unknown during the decades of Communist rule. Anderson’s body was cremated upon her death in 1984, but DNA testing in 1994 on available pieces of Anderson’s tissue and hair showed no relation to the Romanov family. When Anastasia was born, her parents and extended family were disappointed that russia ladies day was a girl.

They hoped for a son who would be heir apparent to the throne. Tsar Nicholas II went for a long walk to compose himself before going to visit Tsarina Alexandra and the newborn Anastasia for the first time. The Tsar’s children were raised as simply as possible. They slept on hard camp cots without pillows, except when they were ill, took cold baths in the morning, and were expected to tidy their rooms and do needlework to be sold at various charity events when they were not otherwise occupied. Young Anastasia was a vivacious and energetic child, described as short and inclined to be chubby, with blue eyes and strawberry-blonde hair.

While often described as gifted and bright, she was never interested in the restrictions of the school room, according to her tutors Pierre Gilliard and Sydney Gibbes. Anastasia’s daring occasionally exceeded the limits of acceptable behavior. She undoubtedly held the record for punishable deeds in her family, for in naughtiness she was a true genius”, said Gleb Botkin, son of the court physician Yevgeny Botkin, who later died with the family at Yekaterinburg. Anastasia and her older sister Maria were known within the family as “The Little Pair”. The two girls shared a room, often wore variations of the same dress, and spent much of their time together.

Their older sisters Olga and Tatiana also shared a room and were known as “The Big Pair”. The four girls sometimes signed letters using the nickname OTMA, which was derived from the first letters of their first names. Despite her energy, Anastasia’s physical health was sometimes poor. The Grand Duchess suffered from painful bunions, which affected both of her big toes.

Anastasia had a weak muscle in her back and was prescribed twice-weekly massage. She hid under the bed or in a cupboard to put off the massage. Symptomatic carriers of the gene, while not hemophiliacs themselves, can have symptoms of hemophilia including a lower than normal blood clotting factor that can lead to heavy bleeding. Her mother relied on the counsel of Grigori Rasputin, a Russian peasant and wandering starets or “holy man,” and credited his prayers with saving the ailing Tsarevich on numerous occasions. Anastasia and her siblings were taught to view Rasputin as “Our Friend” and to share confidences with him. However, one of the girls’ governesses, Sofia Ivanovna Tyutcheva, was horrified in 1910 that Rasputin was permitted access to the nursery when the four girls were in their nightgowns and wanted him barred.