PHOTO: the red uniform of the Colonel of His Majesty’s Hussar Life Guards
Regiment, worn by Emperor Nicholas II at his wedding in November 1894
© Tsarskoye Selo State Museum

On 10th June 2026, a new exhibition Tsarskoye Selo. Masterpieces of the Imperial Residence, will open at the Museum of Fine Arts in Ekaterinburg. The exhibition will showcase some 360 items from the Collection of the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum.

One section of the exhibition will be devoted to Russia’s last Tsar and the Alexander Palace. Among the many historic items is the uniform worn by Emperor Nicholas II at his wedding in November 1894.

His Majesty wore the red dress uniform with medals of the Colonel of His Majesty’s Hussar Life Guards Regiment and an orange sash of the Order of Hesse and by Rhine. Nicholas II served as Regiment colonels-in-chief of the regiment (established in 1775), from the day of his ascension to the throne in November 1894 to his abdication in March 1917.

On the lining of the collar, there is a silk label with the text: “His Majesty was married in this uniform. Save forever.”

PHOTO: Emperor Nicholas II depicted wearing the red
uniform Colonel of the Life Guards Hussar Regiment, 1894

Recall that the wedding of Emperor Nicholas II and Grand Duchess [future Empress] Alexandra Feodorovna, took place on 27th (O.S. 14th) November 1894. The ceremony took place in the Church of the Saviour Not Made by Hands (the home church of the Imperial Family) of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg.

The Museum of Fine Arts celebrates it’s 90th anniversary this year – the author of this article visited the museum in July 2018.

The exhibition Tsarskoye Selo. Masterpieces of the Imperial Residence runs until 16th August 2026 at the Museum of Fine Arts in Ekaterinburg.

© Paul Gilbert. 4 June 2026