Do's and don'ts at the table of Elizabeth II: 10 rules of royal etiquette

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Surely, many people dream of being at the same table with a real queen. But at the same time, only a few imagine how strict the rules govern even the simplest lunch or dinner in the presence of the queen. For example, in Buckingham Palace, everything is regulated and subject to etiquette, which no one has the right to violate. This applies not only to the rules for using the devices, but even to the time of entering the room where the meal will take place.

Rule # 1: Never enter a room out of turn

No one can enter the room where lunch or dinner will take place before Elizabeth II crosses its threshold. But it will not be possible to follow her right away, because according to all the rules, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh enter first, followed by all the other family members in order of succession to the throne: the Prince of Wales with the Duchess of Cornwall, after them Prince William and his wife, and so on.

Rule # 2: come dressed to impress

A meal with the queen is always an official reception, and therefore all family members and guests must be dressed in accordance with the dress code. At lunch, a strict business style is welcome, but during dinner, evening dresses are indispensable.

Rule # 3: Not Before The Queen

All guests have the right to sit down at the table only if Elizabeth II has already taken her place. Guests must wait patiently for the queen to walk over to the chair and take it. The meal itself begins at the moment when the queen sends the first piece into her mouth.

Rule # 4: No Talking to the Queen's First Words

At the beginning of the meal, there is complete silence at the royal table. Only after the queen addresses her neighbor, sitting to her right, can women speak to those who are next to them. And also only on the right. Already in the second half of the meal, Elizabeth II addresses her neighbor on the left. It is because of this that the most important guest is always to the right of the queen.

Rule # 5: You can't leave the table

As long as the queen is at the table, guests cannot leave him. The exception is when a guest or guest needs to leave for a while, for example, to the restroom. Then the person at the table should place the knife and fork cross on a cross. This serves as a signal to the waiter that the meal is not over and the guest will soon return to his place. But those present can use the right to leave the table only in case of emergency (as was the case with Kate Middleton during pregnancy), having previously apologized to the neighbors, but without explaining the reasons. In general, all guests are advised to visit the facilities prior to their meal.

Rule # 6: Keep Crockery and Cutlery Properly

During lunch, as in the rest of the world, you must hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right, and you should not plunge the knife directly into a piece of meat or fish. It is necessary to slide the knife slightly along the surface of the fork facing downward. During tea drinking, the cup is held by the upper part of the handle with the thumb and forefinger, while supporting the lower part of the handle with the middle one. If the guest prefers coffee, the index finger is threaded through the handle. And, of course, the little finger exposed outside is considered extremely indecent. By the way, ladies drink tea or coffee, holding the cup in one position, so as not to leave traces of lipstick all over the rim. In this case, milk is poured into tea, and in no case is it the other way around, and if necessary, stir the contents of the cup, the spoon should be driven carefully, without touching the walls of the cup. And, of course, you shouldn't make any sounds while drinking.

Rule # 7: Act like a queen

During royal dinners, members of the royal family fold the napkins in half so that they can wipe their hands or face, and then place the napkin with the clean side out. In this case, no one will notice how dirty you are during the meal. In general, it is customary to eat very carefully, trying not to litter and not smear. And there is an unspoken rule: if the guest does not know what to do in a particular case, you should look at the queen and follow her example, it concerns the use of a napkin or cutlery.

Rule # 8: Royal Signals

During lunch, Elizabeth II gives signals to waiters or guests using cutlery or personal belongings. If, after the first course, the queen put down a knife and a fork - this serves as a sign for the waiters, who immediately begin to clear the table. When a clutch or a small queen's purse appears on the table, it means that dinner will be over in exactly five minutes. Did the queen get up from her seat? The meal is over and none of the guests can eat or drink anymore. Guests, by the way, also give signals to the waiter. If the knife and fork are on the plate to the right and slightly at an angle, it means that the guest will no longer eat this dish and can be removed.

Rule # 9: Don't ask for bread or salt

During a royal meal, it is not customary to ask guests, let alone the queen, to hand over bread or salt. It is customary to be content with what guests can reach without effort. Naturally, you can't reach across the entire table either.

Rule # 10: No Phones

Guests of the royal meal are strictly forbidden to use mobile phones during the reception, as this is considered the height of indecency. However, it usually does not even occur to guests to leave their phone on. If there is dinner with the Queen, then the whole world will have to wait!

The Queen of Great Britain reviews the menu twice a week, with the latest suggestions from the head chef. But at the same time, the cult of food never existed in the family of Elizabeth II. The royal family's daily diet includes fairly simple dishes, but the chef always takes into account everyone's personal tastes.