The tree was installed in the Semi-Circular Hall
Photo © Tsarskoye Selo Museum-Reserve

A live fir tree has been installed in the Semi-Circular Hall[1] of the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo. This is the fifth year in a row (since 2021) that the tradition of Emperor Nicholas II and his family has been revived.

The tree was decorated with antique toys from the museum’s collection. The Christmas tree will stand until the end of the New Year holidays.

From 1905 to 1917, the Alexander Palace was the preferred residence of Nicholas II, Alexandra Feodorovna and their children. All members of the Imperial Family and their entourage took part in the preparations for Christmas[2]. A Christmas tree for the children was placed on the second floor, while the main family tree was on the first (ground) floor.

The tree was decorated with antique toys from the museum’s collection
Photo © Tsarskoye Selo Museum-Reserve

Several other Christmas trees for servants and guards stood in the ceremonial halls, and a Christmas tree for the Emperor and the Empress was placed in the private rooms of Alexandra Feodorovna. The last time a Christmas tree was decorated in the Alexander Palace was in December 1916.

The Ceremonial or State Halls of the Alexander Palace reopened in July of this year. The Semi-circular and Portrait Halls, as well as the Marble Drawing Room, are now part of the excursion route through the palace, which now includes 17 interiors.

Visitors were reminded that the Alexander Palace is open from 26th December to 30th December 2025 and from 2nd January to 11th January 2026. The museum’s opening hours are from 10:00 to 18:00.

NOTES:

H[1] It was from the Semi-Circular hall, that the Imperial Family went into exile to Siberia on 14th (O.S. st) August 1917.

[2] As Orthodox Christians, Nicholas II and his family celebrated Christmas according to the Old Style Julian Calendar on 7th January

FURTHER READING

Christmas returns to the Alexander Palace

The Imperial Family’s last Christmas in 1917

© Paul Gilbert. 26 December 2025