<P> Empress Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark), the wife of Alexander III, saw that a garden was laid out in the centre of the main courtyard in 1885, an area previously cobbled and lacking vegetation . Court architect Nikolai Gornostayev designed a garden surrounded by a granite plinth and a fountain, and planted trees in the courtyard, laying limestone pavements along the walls of the palace . </P> <P> In 1894, Alexander III was succeeded by his son Nicholas II . The last Tsar suspended court mourning for his father to marry his wife Alix of Hesse in a lavish ceremony at the Winter palace . However, after the ceremony the newlywed couple retired to the Anichkov Palace, along with the Dowager Empress . There they began their married life in six small rooms . </P> <P> In 1895, Nicholas and Alexandra established themselves at the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoe Selo . This was to be their favoured home for the remainder of the reign . However, from December 1895 they did reside for periods during the winter at the Winter Palace . Architect Alexander Krasovsky was commissioned to redecorate a suite of rooms in the north - west corner of the palace, including the Gothic library . </P> <P> In 1896, the wife of Nicholas II was credited for the creation of another garden (35) on the former parade ground, beneath the windows of the Imperial Family's private apartments . She had found it disconcerting that the public could stare into her windows . The garden was created by landscape architect Georg Kuphaldt, the director of the Riga city gardens and parks . This is only one of two gardens which remain today at the palace . </P>

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