Myka Meier, an etiquette expert who trained under a member of Queen Elizabeth II’s staff has shared how we – the Royal we, that is – should drink their tea.
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Drinking tea like royalty
All members of the Royal Family are expected to use a cup, saucer and teaspoon when drinking tea. According to the founder of New York-based Beaumont Etiquette, the cup’s handle must be facing three o’clock, and the teaspoon must always remain on the saucer.
The cup should only be held if one drinks from it, and the saucer if one must stand, in which case the member of the Royal Family can pick it up.
If you need to stir your tea, it should be done up and down, not circularly. Royal Family members must also avoid making noise, so tapping the spoon against the cup is a big no-no in case it chips the china. Instead, one must shake the teaspoon above the cup to allow wayward drips to fall back into the cup.
When taking a sip, elbows must remain firmly at one’s side.
The pinky myth
How would you naturally hold your cup? Do you wrap both hands around it, allowing the warmth of it to heat your hands? Do you thread your middle fingers through the handle?
If so, you may want to rethink how you hold your hand, as both are frowned upon. The protocol for holding one’s cup is also rather strict. Royals must ‘pinch and support’ according to Ms Meier. In other words, Royals pinch the handle with their thumb and index finger and place their middle finger under the handle for support.
Another important rule that Meier highlights is that Royals never drink their tea with their ‘pinkies out’. She explained:
When you're in London, the joke is that you can spot an American a mile away because we always have our pinkies out.
Instead, the ring finger and the pinky finger should be tucked away or if needs be, placed at the base of the cup for extra support.
Sources used:
- Express.co.uk: Unusual rules royals have to follow when drinking a cup of tea - one thing to 'never do'
