Russia and Britain were never natural bedfellows. But the marriage, in 1894, of Queen Victoria's favourite granddaughter, Alicky, to the Tsarevich Nicholas marked the beginning of an uneasy Anglo-Russian entente that would last until the Russian Revolution of 1917. The Imperial Tea Party draws back the curtain on the three extraordinary meetings that took place between the British and Russian royal families during those years. These pivotal encounters, although well-intentioned and generally hailed as successes, were beset by misunderstandings and misfortunes. In this wonderfully droll account, Frances Welch presents a vivid snapshot of two dynasties at a time of social unrest. The two families could not know, as they waved each other fond goodbyes from their yachts at Cowes in 1909, that they would never meet again.

About the Author
Frances Welch is the author of Rasputin: A Short Life (2014), The Russian Court at Sea (2011), A Romanov Fantasy (2008) and The Romanovs & Mr Gibbes (2004), all published by Short Books. Frances Welch has written for the Sunday Telegraph, Granta, The Spectator and the Financial Times. She lives in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, with her husband, Craig Brown. They have two children.

Reviews
"With her quick wit and light touch, Welch conducts a relentless inquiry into conscience, family loyalty and the nature of the past... an unsettling portrait of moustaches, murder, and lese-majeste.' Frances Wilson, The Spectator "In this funny, touching and ultimately tragic book, Welch brilliantly exposes how the British family courted and then abandoned their royal cousins in the run-up to World War I." Kathryn Hughes, Mail on Sunday "A fascinating book... Welch is an excellent writer." The Daily Telegraph "Delightfully witty and entertaining." The Times Literary Supplement "Excellent history... Intrigue aplenty." The Times "Deeply affecting." Daily Mail



Book Information
ISBN 9781780723921
Author Frances Welch
Format Paperback
Page Count 288
Imprint Short Books Ltd
Publisher Short Books Ltd