capital. With a poor command of Russian, Grand Duchess Maria spoke in French with her husband and in English with her daughters. Princess Nina, the eldest was described by Baroness Agnes von Stoeckl as "dark, calm and indolent" while Xenia, the youngest was "blond, vivacious and full of life". Both girls were very much doted on by their parents. Grand Duchess Maria hired an English nanny to educate them. On 18 March 1913, King George I was assassinated in Thessalonica, a city that Greece had seized on during the First Balkan War. For Maria Georgieva, who had been so close to her father it was a terrible blow. For many weeks, she was inconsolable. A few weeks later, still grieving, she had to take part in the ceremonies which marked the tercentenary of the Romanov dynasty. By 1914 the relationship between the Grand Duchess and her husband had deteriorated. Grand Duke George was a devoted father and husband, but the Grand Duchess never fell in love with him. She never liked Russia either and eventually became estranged from her husband. War and Revolution In the summer of 1914, the Grand Duchess left Russia with her two daughters and her lady in waiting, Baroness Agnes von Stoeckl for England to improve her daughter Xenia's frail health with the mineral waters of the Spa town of Harrogate, where they had been three times before. In reality, she wanted a trial separation from her husband. The Grand Duke accompanied them to Warsaw in July. They would never see each other again. After a stay at the Claridge's Hotel, the Princess moved to Harrogate, where Grand Duke George Mikhailovich was going to join them a few weeks later. However, the outbreak of World War I on 28 July 1914 thwarted their plans. Grand Duke George was forced to cancel his trip as he had to resume his duties in the Tsarist army. For her part, Grand Duchess Maria declined the chance to rush back to Russia with her aunt the Empress Maria Feodorovna, who was in London that summer. Instead, the Grand Duchess decided to extend her stay in the United Kingdom with her daughters and later used the dangers involved in a trip back during wartime in not attempting a return to Russia. Determine to help with the war of the Triple Entente against the Central Powers, Grand Duchess Maria founded a small