25 December 1917/7 January 1918

The day started off the way Christmas should, and then something happened that ruined everything. As usual we went to the little church on the far side of the public garden for Mass, and at the end of the service the priest said a prayer for the health and long life of the imperial family. Huge mistake! That prayer had been dropped from the Mass after Papa’s abdication, and the soldiers got angry when they heard it. So we’ve been told that’s the last time we’ll be allowed to attend the little church. From now on we must have our services here in the house. As if that wasn’t bad enough, we’re going to have guards inside the house, as well as outside.