" With her two daughters Minnie was strict and demanding, always reminding them of their royal duties. With her three growing sons she was far more permissive than with the girls, more like an older sister or intimate friend than mother, conspiring with the boys to deflect the temper of their father. Minnie would wheedle, charm and deceive Sasha. Nicky was especially close to his mother, ready to accept her advice, and unfortunately she encouraged his dependence on her rather than helping him to develop a style of leadership unsuitable for his future responsibilities. "

― , The Flight of the Romanovs: A Family Saga