No Clinking The Crystal: Etiquette Guidelines for Dining at The Royal Wedding, Recommended by Advancing With Style

PALM BEACH, FL, April 28, 2011 (Press-News.org) Etiquette expert Pat Stonehouse says that guests invited to the Royal Wedding Dinner on April 29th "need keep in mind that manners and protocol rule at Buckingham Palace." She points out that "even though many invited to the private dinner are younger friends of Prince William and Catherine, they will be expected to abide by Royal Protocol."

According to Stonehouse, even those well-versed in dining etiquette will find dining at Buckingham Palace daunting. "The way the Royal family dines is vastly different from what may be observed at a formal dinner in North America."

Stonehouse affirms the following Top 10 etiquette guidelines apply:

1. Stand behind one's chair and wait for the Queen to sit down before being seated.

2. Wait for the Queen to start eating. When the Queen stops eating, so does everyone else at the dinner.

3. The Royal family eats Continental style - not American style. The knife is held in the right hand and the fork in the left. Food is conveyed to the mouth with the fork held tines down in the left hand; the fork is not transferred to the right hand the way it is in North America. When finished, the knife and fork are placed parallel on the plate in the six o'clock position.

4. Should one happen to drop something on the floor, pretend nothing has happened. Footmen will discretely attend to it.

5. Once seated, no one leaves the table until the Queen leaves. It is considered bad manners to leave the table and visit the restroom during the meal.

6. Personal belongings such as cell phones and purses should not be placed on the table.

7. Looking for salt and pepper shakers? They won't be found - instead, look for a salt cellar, which looks like a tiny bowl with a small spoon, and a pepper caster.

8. Don't ask for things not directly within reach. One needs not ask to have anything passed when dining with the Royals. All food is served by footmen, and each guest's place setting has its own individual salt cellar, pepper caster, mustard pot and butter dish.

9. Refrain from clinking glasses to have the newlyweds kiss, as the Queen wouldn't appreciate having her exquisite crystal chipped.

10. What traditionally is called "dessert" is called "pudding" in England. After the pudding course comes the dessert course, which is the fruit course. At this time, each dinner guest is presented with a finger bowl on a gilt plate with a knife, fork and spoon. Guests are to lift and position the finger bowl and napkin to the left of their place setting and lay out their own cutlery for the fruit course. After the fruit is eaten, guests use the finger bowls

About Pat Stonehouse
Pat Stonehouse is the President of Advancing With Style, offering corporate training in business etiquette, image consulting and international business protocol.