H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia

I am formally styled Her Imperial Highness, the Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna Romanova of Russia. However, within my family and group of friends, I am called simply Marie or Mashka. My parents are Their Imperial Majesties, Tsar Nicholas II and Tsaritsa Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia. I am their third child, and directly in the middle, as I have two elder sisters (Olga and Tatiana) and a younger sister and brother (Anastasia and Alexei).
I was born on June 26, 1899. I'm afraid that I may have been somewhat of a disappointment to my beloved Mama and Papa. I know that it's not because they love me any less than my siblings but, you see, in Russia, only boys are allowed to inherit the throne. After the birth of my two older sisters, both of my parents were praying for a boy, but God gave them little me instead. Still, my parents are wonderful, as are my siblings. I love my family so very much!
During my lifetime, I was generally described by all who knew me as a lovely, flirtatious girl with an incredibly big heart. I was friends with almost everyone that I met, including the sailors on our family's yacht, the Standart, and Papa's soldiers. My genuine friendliness and interest in other people led my family to refer to me as "the sweetheart sister." It was my intention, when I was old enough, to marry a soldier and have a large family.
Unfortunately, when I was a teenager, my Papa was forced to abdicate his throne and our beloved Russia underwent a terrible Revolution. My family and I were taken prisoner and, in Ekaterinburg in the early morning hours of July 17, 1918, we were murdered by our captors.