Mrs Beeton’s Advice On Meeting Queen

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30038, 24 January 1963, Page 2

Mrs Beeton’s Advice On Meeting Queen

The problem of what to do when meeting royalty will no doubt already be in the minds of’many Christchurch persons who will come into contact with the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh during the forthcoming Royal tour. Never at a loss for advice in any situation, Mrs Beeton comes to the aid with some suggestions. All have been brought up to date in the* 1961 edition of her book, “Home Management,” now more than a century old.

They include the following: “When presented to royalty, ft is courteous to avoid too firm a grip or too vigorous a shake of the royal hand (which must encounter so many hand-shakes)

“Men usually bow slightly, women drop a small ‘bob' curtsey; if any conversation follows, the address “Your Majesty," or “Your Royal Highness” should not be used more than once, and it is indeed perfectly correct and often easier to use a simple “Ma'am* or “Sir” throughout the conversation.

“If a fellow-guest with royalty in a private house or attending some semi-private function . refrain from staring or any behaviour which emphasises the difference between royalty and other persons present “Anxiety is unnecessary, for the Queen and her family prefer that there should be as little formal etiquette as possible where their meetings with ordinary folk are concerned “A command to a Palace function such as a garden party or investiture is normally accompanied by a note of guidance on what to wear and which entrance to use.

“From the moment of arrival, one’s path is unobtrusively smoothed by court officials expert in seeing that everyone is on the right spot at the right irwnmt, so that the individual visitor can rosily enjoy this greet occasion. free from worry about procedure. “It is no longer considered strictly meservy to wait tor

the royal personage to open the conversation.” advises “Mrs Beeton.”

Advice on writing to the Queen or the Duke is also contained in Mrs Beeton’s hints (for royalty). “The Queen is addressed as ’Madam, may it please Your Majesty,’ at the beginning of a letter, and the letter ends ‘I have the honour to be, with profound respect. Your Majesty's most devoted subject and servant’ The envelope is addressed To the Queen's Moot Excellent Majesty.’ “Royal prince' - and princesses (including the Duke of Edinburgh) are addressed at the beginning of a letter simply as ’Sir” or 'Madam' or by friends as ’Dear Prince' or ’Dear The letter ends ’Your Royal Highness's dutiful and obedient servant* ’’

Other suggestions for those attending Royal occasions during the coming tour are as follows: If invited to an occasion at which the Royal couple will be present it is comet for guests to arrive about 10 minutes before they are scheduled to appear. After being presented one should mix with the other guests present and only leave the reception aftesr the Royal party has left.

If the Queen refuses wine or liqueurs in an assembly women guests present are not obliged to do likewise. Although the Queen does not smoke, women guests do not need to retrain from smoking it men preeent are already doing so.