A letter sent by the last Tsarina of Russia, one of history's most tragic figures, was delivered to the region for safe-keeping today.

The faded document - which was sent over 90 years ago - reveals more about the unlikely connection between the Princess Alexandra Romanov, one of the most famous members of the European aristocracy, and a family who lived in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

The letter will join an amazing collection of gifts, now on display at the town's Royal Pump Room Museum, which were sent by the princess in 1910 to her godson, Nicholas Allen.

The presents were donated to the museum eight years ago by Michael Allen, son of Nicholas, to celebrate the centenary of Princess Alexandra's visit to Harrogate.

She made the journey to the town in 1894 to receive treatment to her sciatica and stayed at Cathcart House, in the West Park area, where she was a guest in the home of a Mr and Mrs Allen.

Mrs Allen had just given birth to twins and, seeing it as a good luck omen, the princess asked to be their godmother and requested that the children be named after herself and her then fiance, Nicholas.

In the years that followed, the princess - the granddaughter of England's Queen Victoria - kept in regular contact with the family, asking for updates on the twins' progress.

The letter read: "Her Imperial Majesty has been pleased to most graciously award to her Imperial Majesty's godchildren - Alix Beatrice Allen and C B Nicholas Hesse Allen - presents. A brooch to the first and cufflinks to the latter on the occasion of their recent confirmation."

However, the international communications ceased around 1917 when Alexandra's husband, Nicholas II, was forced to abdicate and the troubled country erupted in civil war. The Russian Imperial family was moved to Siberia in 1918 and ultimately killed by revolutionaries at Ipatiev House in July 1918.

The Tsarina's gifts to her godson will be featured on the BBC programme The Antiques Roadshow on April 14, when museum curator Mary Kershaw will be telling their story to presenter Michael Aspel.