What a horrible hornet's nest has been created out of a simple question.
I can assure you there will never be a plaque erected inside the Alexander Palace. Its future is still in doubt. There has been a recent change, however this information is private and privileged. Any proposed restoration is strongly in favour of the restitution of the Quarenghi interiors. Now, as then, the 'cognescenti' think that Nicholas and Alexandra's private rooms lacked taste. You know, a bit like the attitude to be found here towards the dear little memorial set up by some innocent, kind hearted, thoughtful and probably very poor individual.
dmitri - I do take exception to your tone. Bob Atchison and myself have been travelling to Tsarskoe Selo and to the Alexander Palace in particular for many years. Both of us have spent many thousands of our own pounds in our quest to heighten awareness and try to facilitate agreements to have something done to save the palace. I hasten to add, the thousands of pounds to which I refer do not include business class travel and weeks spent in five star hotels. I pay rent and live in a 'Kruschev' flat in Pushkin because that's the way we prefer to do things. However, prior to this I was fortunate to stay in (phonetically) Baza Odicha - a 'rest home' in the Catherine Palace where I had to transfer pails of water from the boiler in order to have a 'communal' shower each day. Nonetheless I loved it and couldn't believe my luck to waken each morning to see Charles Cameron's Chinese Village not far from my bedroom window. Worth 1,000 five star hotels in my opinion. I can confirm Viv's experience, because I know there is deliberate positive discrimination against the Alexander Palace in favour of the Catherine Palace.
Margarita - I have never left flowers at the monument (although I have contributed and organised wreaths to be laid there on behalf of the Alexander Palace Association on the anniversary of the murders). I am surprised you like it. I would have thought you were only too familiar with Soviet-style architecture. I have been privileged to carry the icon of the Holy Passion Bearer Nicholas II in procession to the memorial a number of times on the anniversary of the massacre of the family and their servants. Most memorably on the day of the family's reburial in the chapel of the Cathedral of Sts Peter and Paul. In fact we were invited to the actual burial service which had originally been planned to take place in the Feodorovsky Sobor, but I prefered to be at the last Imperial Family's spiritual home. I also was extremely fortunate in being present when Bishop Vassili planted a sapling oak to replace one of the three which are missing.
Two things really sadden me in the behaviour of posters on this thread. Firstly, nobody has even mentioned the brave man who gave his life in his endeavour to honour his commitment to the memory of the last Tsar of Russia. Nobody has even thought about his young widow and her children. SHAME. Nobody has considered Viv Rosendhal's feelings. She is a new member of the Forum. Who could blame her if she does not return? If any of you had received the kind of treatment that some posters here have directed towards her posts, would you still be posting? Somehow I doubt it.
All this over a simple memorial cross - does it matter if its tasteless - surely its the thought that counts.
tsaria
