George had to remain on the ship because he had trouble with his leg. George's family was informed he had a fever and would have to return home. George was diagnosed with acute bronchitis and was sent back to Athens where he could be examined by Imperial doctors. The Empress was distressed for both brothers: George, whose disappointment she felt deeply, and Nicholas, who was now deprived of his brother's company. Tsesarevich In November 1894, Alexander III died and Nicholas mounted the throne as Emperor. At the time, Nicholas had no children, thus according to the laws of succession of the Russian Empire, the Grand Duke George became Tsesarevich, the heir presumptive to the throne. George's ill-health had forced him to relocate to Likani, making it impossible for him to return to St. Petersburg for the funeral of his father. Nicholas wrote to his brother, "Constantly pray to God to send you a full and speedy recovery, and to comfort you because it is so much more difficult to be alone after such great sorrow than it is for us who are at least together!" George also missed the christenings of Nicholas' elder daughters, Olga and Tatiana. Shortly after the birth of Nicholas' third daughter, Maria, in June 1899, George wrote to his brother, "I am terribly sad that I have not yet been able to see your daughters and get to know them; but what can I do? It means it's not my fate, and everything is the will of God." George was visited by his mother in Likani. In 1895, George and his mother visited Denmark and nearby Danish relatives. Suddenly, his health started to deteriorate. "Yesterday, in the garden, he expectorated some blood...that frightened me more than I can tell - the surprise of it was shocking because he had been so well of late...I am quite desperate that this should have happened here." As a result, George was forbidden to smoke and was confined to bed until he was fit enough to return to Likani. Writing to Nicholas back home once again, George said about his trip to Denmark, "Of course, it was good to see the family after 4 years, but it did not really do me any good, as I lost more than 5 pounds which I had put on with such difficulty in May and June. I also get out of breath more