As many people know, there are many rules and etiquette that need to be followed by those visiting the Queen.These rules and etiquette also apply to dining with Her Majesty and if you don’t follow them, you risk the chance of looking silly and getting quite the stare-down from the Queen. This one Prince found out the hard way.
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Dining rules with the Queen
The major rule when in the presence of the Queen is to ‘follow the Queen’s lead’. That means you:
- Stand when the Queen stands
- Sit when the Queen sits
- Eat when the Queen eats
However, once on a trip on board the Royal Yacht Britannia, a local prince forgot this rule.
A local Prince’s mishap with the Queen
Paul Burrell, the former royal butler recalls the time a local prince forget the royal etiquette whilst dining with the Queen on the Royal Yacht Britannia in the South Pacific.
I was standing behind the Queen looking horrified. He was about to raise the bowl to his lips to drink it when he looked at the Queen and realised he had made a terrible mistake. Not wanting to make him feel awkward, she picked up her finger bowl and took a sip. Now that's class.
Read more:
⋙ Here are 6 strange rules the Royal Family have to follow
⋙ 3 strange protocols the Royals follow when travelling abroad
⋙ How Billie Eilish broke Royal protocol upon meeting Prince William and Kate
Dining rules that date back centuries
This royal dining etiquette dates back to centuries. According to Etiquipedia:
For many people eating with her was purgatory. Everyone was served after the Queen and when she had finished all the plates were cleared for the next course. If you were the last person served often you wouldn't get a chance to eat anything before your plate was taken.
It is believed that the worst monarch to dine with was Queen Victoria. It is thought that Queen Victoria could eat a 7-course meal in half an hour.
