A pebble-sized piece of fudge was found in the ball gown worn by Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna – the eldest sister of Russia’s last tsar – 118 years ago.
An expert in restoration found the tiny sweet hidden inside the gown’s sleeves. He then tried it.
The sister of Tsar Nicholas II wore the long-sleeved beige dress to a 1903 ball to commemorate the 290th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty at St Petersburg’s Winter Palace.
A restoration worker discovered the small piece of fudge while inspecting the gown.
Galina Fedorova was the main restorer of the Hermitage Museum in the city. She had worked on the dress for several months prior to discovering the sweet surprise.
In an Instagram video, she said: “I lifted one sleeve and it was wonderful.
“I tried one and it didn’t work.”
Ms Fedorova said that at first she tried reaching into the sleeves, but her hand was too small.
Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna, Russia, photographed at a ball at the Winter Palace on February 19, 1903.
The fudge was in her hands after she pulled at the thread. She then put the string into her mouth using ‘instinct.
“For some reason, I believe some ancient instinct kicked into me – so I took it and licked it.
“And it tasted sweet.”
A laboratory later examined the piece of fudge and determined that there were no mold or viruses in it.
Galina Fedorova said that she was shocked to find the tiny unknown object in the sleeves and chose to try it.
The 1890 portrait of the Grand Duchess Xenia Alexanderovna Her escape to Crimea was in 1918
Ms Fedorova claimed that it was likely that Grand Duchess took the sweet away because she became hungry before French food, which was on the dinner menu, could be served.
Because there was nowhere else to store the fudge, it is believed that the Royal then put it into her Sleeve.
The celebration was dubbed Europe’s “last great royal ball” by many, fourteen years after its 290th year anniversary. According to The Vintage News, it took place 14 years later.
Ms Fedorova (pictured), found fudge inside a long sleeve from the grand duchess’ elaborate gown
There were 400 guests at the ball. Some of these people are believed to have worn elaborate 17th century costumes with jewels, gems, and furs.
This extravagant display of royal wealth would soon be met with turmoil when the Russo–Japanese war broke out.
The Russian Empire suffered a series of humiliating defeats in the conflict, creating tensions which ultimately led to the Russian Revolution in 1917, archive site History reported.
Following the deaths of Nicholas II and his families, Xenia Alexandrovna escaped from England to Crimea in 1918.
The Duchess of Cambridge lived to 85 and died on the Hampton Court Palace grounds, in 1960.