Royal Etiquette
Here are some Royal Etiquette rules that we must know. In honor of William and Kate's wedding, let's take some time away from the 'Fashion Trends' and talk about Royal Etiquette. I did a little research and gathered some important information from valid sources so we would be 'fashionably' informed.
Referenced from:
- Huma Khan from ABC news
- the U.K.'s official tourism office
- and Paul Gauger, the director of regional press for 'VisitBritain'
Paul was also featured in "Good Morning America" offering this advice.
ref: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3146657
How to Greet The Queen
Let Her Majesty initiate the conversation with you.
Greeting the queen? Use "Your Majesty", then, "ma'am".
Greeting the U.S. president is "Mr President."
Do not bow or curtsy if you are not British.
Unless you are British you do not have to curtsy in the presence of the queen.
According to ABC news*, British women do a small curtsy and men bow their heads when meeting the queen.
"As an American when you're actually meeting the queen you don't have to do a curtsy or a bow because she's not the head of the state of America," Paul Gauger, the director of regional press for VisitBritain, offered his advice to 'Good Morning America'.
"What might be a nice sign of respect if you're a gentleman, you can do a slight nod...and some women, if they want to they can do a little bob.
Do not offer a handshake. Royal Etiquette applies to not touching the queen or any member of the royal family. We should wait for them to extend their hand. If they do, we must remember not to be excited and shake too hard. Be nice and gentle. That means no gripping it tightly or pumping it. Also, no hugs, no kiss on the cheek, no touching the shoulder.
Let Her Majesty initiate the conversation with you.
Greeting the queen? Use "Your Majesty", then, "ma'am".
Greeting the U.S. president is "Mr President."
No Touch Rule of Royal Etiquette
Like shaking hands, the queen's visitors have to wait until she extends her hand to them.
As mentioned, no gripping or pumping handshakes. And definitely no hugs, no kiss on the cheek, no touching the shoulder, putting your arm around the queen.
It is not socially acceptable to even take her elbow to direct her.
Recently, President Obama and Michelle Obama visited the Queen. Even when posing for a picture, they stood apart with hands in the front without touching.
Since the Obamas are not subjects of the royal family, they did not need to bow or curtsy, though President Obama was gracious to bow slightly from the waist as he met the queen and her husband.
Royal Gift Giving Etiquette
Gift giving is also part of the etiquette when meeting royalty.
According to ABC news, The President and first lady gave the queen a video iPod with an inscription with uploaded songs and accessories, plus a rare musical songbook signed by Richard Rodgers.
The queen gave the president a silver framed photograph of herself and her husband, the official picture she gives all visiting dignitaries.
ref: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/International/story?id=7228105&page=1
What To Wear
Royal Etiquette's dresscode is generally conservative though it is acceptable for women to sport little sleeveless dresses.
In the article, "U.S. guide to royal etiquette: Don't call the Queen Liz", it says that the Officials for the Governor of Virginia Tim Kaine seem apprehensive enough to devote an entire page to royal etiquette for dresscode on his website.
It quotes, "Members of the Royal Family do not wish anyone to be put to unnecessary expense by buying special clothes, hats or gloves."
I thought that was extra nice of them to think of others. :)
(There is even a Royal Welcome hotline for extra advice.)
ref: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-451559/U-S-guide-royal-etiquette-Dont-Queen-Liz.html
Royal Etiquette When In Conversation
If the queen chooses to engage in polite conversation with you, you should never ask anything about their personal life for example her famous grand children, Prince Harry and Prince William.
Never try to call her 'Queen' or "Elizabeth" or "Liz" whatever name you have heard in the media.
Be natural, you don't have to mimic her British accent back to her when speaking.
During the conversation, make gentle eye contact, look happy and be light hearted. But you don't have to go and let loose your barrage of jokes either.
And oh, never turn your back on the queen.
Invited To Tea With The Queen
Tea is usually served accompanied by small snacks, usually in a beautiful garden.
You might want to read up on tea etiquette. Such as, raising only the teacup to drink, not the cup and saucer, and to return the cup to the saucer after each sip.
Remember not to chew loudly, close your mouth while you chew, take small bites, do not slurping and do talking with your mouth full. Also, remember not to stacking too much food on your plate.
Also, it is important that we should all stop eating after the queen takes her last bite.
Cutlery
Work Inwards: Start with the cutlery on the outside and work your way in for each courseHold It!: Your knife is not a pen; hold it with your index finger along the top-side of the bladePudding Position (Desert): Pudding cutlery should not go above the plate, but along the side like the rest of the cutlery - commonly-made mistake!Table Manners
Napkins: When you leave, place your napkin in a neat pile on the table to the left of your place settingMobiles (Cell Phones): Should be turned off during the mealBathroom Breaks: If you need to go to the lavatory during a meal, the acceptable time to excuse yourself with the minimum of fuss is after the main course, before pudding (Desert)Food & Drink
Bread: Never cut your bread, always break off a piece, butter it (if desired), and eatLiquids: All drinks should be sipped and not gulpedTricky Foods: If you don't know how to eat spaghetti then don't order it during an important meal.Tips for Tea
By ~ William Hanson ~ he is an international protocol & etiquette consultant, based in Manchester, England.
- By definition, afternoon is a dainty meal (not to be confused with High Tea which is anything but!). Thus, when you drink your tea do not glug (gulp) it down: take sips (this applies to every drink in all settings, incidentally). Similarly, the food on offer (menu) should be eaten in a gentle fashion and not wolfed down like you have not eaten for months.
- There is an order to taking tea. The actual drinking tea can be drunk throughout the meal. As for the food the sandwiches are eaten first, and then sweet stuff (cakes, pastries, scones).
- Scones are always broken; never cut. They should be served with jam and clotted cream, or butter. The jam goes on first, and then the butter or cream. Do not let anyone tell you it is any other way but that. They are wrong.
- Crumpets should be buttered whole and then cut; cakes and pastries should be made so the use of a pastry fork is not needed, although if that is not the case, the use of such an implement is perfectly acceptable.
- If you take milk with your tea, then this is poured in after the tea itself. This is because in the Victorian era when Afternoon tea was introduced, the best households would have fine bone china cups, which could withstand high temperatures: milk could be poured in after the scalding water, whereas the lower echelons of the household would have pottery cups and mugs and milk poured in first would prevent the cups from cracking. You can do it either way, to be honest, but it can reveal a lot about your Breedingdepending on which order you use! (Professor A. S. C. Ross terms these two type of people Pre-lactariansfor those who pour milk in first - and the ones who pour it in last, Post-lactarians).
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