Alexandra's Formal Reception Room

[jfkhaos]

I do not agree with Bob about visiting palace as private residence.
Palace was clearly divided into the official and private part.  ( Since 1904)
So the princip was the same as in the Winter Palace.
There was a special train schedule for the officials to visit Alexandr Palace.
It was the place for work and for leisure - just like in any other palaces.
In Crimea iin Petergot , t was some different, because the palaces were  made as resorts.

I think the Alexander Palace can be referred to as a private residence in the sense that, although it did have its enfilade of state rooms, and work did go on in the palace on a daily basis, it was more of a home in a sense that the Winter Palace, Catherine Palace, etc, was not:  this is where the last Imperial family lived and worked, shared joys and sorrows.  It is much smaller than the majority of palaces at the family's disposal, and it gives more of a sense of life and personal experiences.

[hikaru]

Yes , of course you are right.
But I think that Ekaterine Palace in Catherine the Great's time was the same like AP during the reign of Nicholas:
There were public rooms and there were private rooms.
Just private rooms in those days were so shick, that it looked like public. Anyway strangers were not allowed to visit private room of Catherine the Great.

But in the 20th century the fashion has changed and
the home of the Tsar became almost the same thing as the home of the quite ordinary people. So we think now that it is more home like than Ekaterina Palace etc.

[Dominic_Albanese]

I do not agree with Bob about visiting palace as private residence.
Palace was clearly divided into the official and private part.  ( Since 1904)
So the princip was the same as in the Winter Palace.
There was a special train schedule for the officials to visit Alexandr Palace.
It was the place for work and for leisure - just like in any other palaces.
In Crimea iin Petergot , t was some different, because the palaces were  made as resorts.

Hi hikaru, I don't want to speak for Bob, but I interpeted what he meant to be anagelous to coming to the White House in the USA - it is the home of the president and his official office.  The President or Tsar has the opportunity to take the person wherever he wants - to a more intimate place in the family quarters - for example to discuss business.  I suspect those countries & ambasadors close to Russia & the Tsar (France, England etc.) visited often and went to rooms in the Alexander Palace that say a less close ambasador (i.e. the United States or Egypt lets say) ever got.

[londo954]

I have a very dumb question....How was this room heated...the other rooms have stoves and frieplaces yet there doesn't seem to be any in this room......?