Picture of the Day

This is an enchanting portrait (and one of my favorites) of the beautiful Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna of Russia, a granddaughter of Britain's Queen Victoria. Elizabeth or "Ella", as she was affectionately called, was married to Grand Duke Serge Alexandrovich of Russia, a younger son of Tsar Alexander II. The belle of the Russian court, Ella was photographed here in all her splendor when she was in her early 30s - at the height of her beauty - wearing the Russian Court Dress made of silver. She was also wearing a kokoshnik or a traditional Russian headdress, adorned with emeralds, diamonds and pearls, and a necklace of big emeralds and diamonds. She was such a lovely sight to behold!

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