LONDON – Royal wedding guests have been sent a 22-page list of do’s and don’ts – including how to hold their teacups. The etiquette guide has common-sense tips such as not clashing with bride Kate Middleton’s outfit by wearing white or cream and keeping phones silent. But there is also advice for the 1,900 guests on how to greet the Queen.
Meanwhile, separate instructions to caterers have given strict orders that staff must not look at Her Majesty or other royals while serving. A Palace source said yesterday, “Etiquette is very important but for some it will be a minefield. That’s why this guide will help. Guests are asked to arrive at least 20 minutes before the ceremony begins.
As the Queen enters Westminster Abbey, everybody has to acknowledge her arrival with a curtsey or bow as she walks through. The same must happen as she leaves.” Royal etiquette expert Jean Broke-Smith added, “When you meet the Queen, she puts her hand out first and you address her as Your Majesty.
In conversation you address her as Ma’am, to rhyme with jam or ham, not palm.”
A key part of the guide deals with dress code. The Palace source explained, “Wearing the right hat and not overdoing it is important. Wearing cream or white is not appropriate. That must be left to the bride. Men in the Armed Forces should wear uniform and male civilians a lounge or morning suit.
A top hat should be carried, not worn, inside the church.” The 1,900 well-wishers who will see Prince William wed Kate on April 29 include 1,000 friends and relatives. Joining them will be politicians, foreign royals, stars such as Sir Elton John and the Beckhams and villagers from Bucklebury, Berks, where Kate’s parents Michael and Carole live.
For some guests the afternoon reception and evening private dinner will mean having to learn a bewildering set of upper-crust dining rules. Broke-Smith revealed, “There will be champagne flowing and you’ve got to hold the glass properly, by the stem. During the formal dinner a lot of people won’t know how to use a knife and fork properly, let alone which cutlery to choose from. You must eat from the outside in and if you have a mass of glasses in front of you, it helps to know which to use.
With tea cups, lift the cup not the saucer and hold it very gently with your index finger and thumb, returning the cup to the saucer after every sip.” Private catering staff waiting for the guests also have a strict protocol to follow. The royal source said, “They have been told not to look at Kate, the Queen or any of the royals while serving. They must keep their heads down and be as discreet as possible.”
Yesterday a Palace spokesman confirmed, “Guests have been given instructions for the day.”
