She found herself thrust immediately into the family circle when the Empress handed the three month old little Tsarevich for her to hold. Sophie had not expected the degree of intimacy between the Empress, her husband and children and their style of living. Her first visits to serve in the palace were a shock. Being a young woman at the time she had not yet been drawn into the politics of court life and her innocence in such matters made her immune from any association with any of power cliques which surrounded the throne. She was perfectly suited for the job, speaking fluent English, having been raised in an aristocratic household and possessing beauty and charm. During these five years she enjoyed a degree of intimacy and trust from Alexandra that was only matched by two other women, Countess Nastinka Hendrikova and Anna Vyrubova. Later in 1913 as a mark of confidence and special honor she became an official lady-in-waiting and served at the side of the Tsaritsa and her family until their removal from Tobolsk to Ekaterinburg in 1918. Baroness Sophie Buxhoeveden became one of 200 honorary ladies-in-waiting to the Empress Alexandra and first served at court in November 1904.
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