Royal Wedding Etiquette Guide

Incase you are lucky enough to have been invited to the royal wedding of the decade, make sure you do not embarrass yourself by missing on the royal protocol!

What to Wear: Generally, the guests are required to wear uniform, lounge suit or morning coat. UNIFORM: Serving gentlemen belonging to the armed forces are allowed to wear the military uniforms after receiving permission from their commanding officer. It is believed that Prince William will be seen in RAF uniform and so his brother, who is a serving officer in Household Cavalry. LOUNGE SUIT: Lounge suits are crisp business suits, which can be worn with collar and tie MORNING COAT: For men, grey or black morning coats, complete with a matching waistcoat, trousers, shirt, cufflinks, tie and a hat looks every bit regal. However, one should remove top hats during official photographs. For women, a nice day dress with matching hat, handbag, gloves and high heels is a must. How to Behave: While on a royal wedding, one should remember how to put one’s best foot forward. CURTSY: According to Debrett’s etiquette manual, a long bow “can be the subject of some amusement within royal circles”. While ladies are expected to make a small bow, gentlemen should make a small bob. PHOTOS: Guests are not allowed to click pictures during the state banquets as personal cameras are discouraged. However the event will be covered by professional photographers. TOUCHING: The official protocol discourages any form of touching accept a polite handshake. However, a mutual display of affection from both the sides is quite acceptable. EATING: The reception hosted on William and Kate’s wedding will be a buffet - a sit down dinner. So get updated on your table manners! EATING ETIQUETES: One should start with soup as the first course. The fork will be placed on the left and knife will be on the right side. Glasses will be placed on the top right side in the following order – water, champagne, white wine, red wine and dessert wine. While eating, one should remember that bread rolls have to broken with fingers instead of knife, asparagus is to be eaten with fingers and use an oyster fork to remove the oyster from its shell. Don’t swallow the oyster as a whole, but chew it softly and savour the delectable royal feast. SPEAKING: One should remember never to speak unless spoken to. One should never indulge in anything private while addressing the royalty. QUEEN: The Queen should be addressed as Majesty or Ma’am. PRINCE: Prince should be addressed as Sir or His Royal Highness. PRINCESS: Princess should be addressed as Ma’am or Her Royal Highness. CLERGY: Clergy should be addressed as Your Grace. Who’s Who: The royal wedding will be graced by the who’s who of British aristocracy; therefore, one should always know how to address the guests present at the occasion according to their titles. DUKE/DUTCHESS: Duke is the highest of the five grades of honour. The wife of Duke is always addressed as the Duchess. MARQUESS/MARCHIONESS: After Duke comes Marquess in peerage. Marquess/Marchioness can also be addressed as Lord or Lady. EARL/COUNT or COUNTESS: Earl/Count or Countess comes third in peerage. The title was originated in the tenth century, during King Canute’s time. The Earl, Count or Countess can also be addressed as Lord or Lady. VISCOUNT/VISCOUNTESS: Viscount and Viscountess can also be addressed as Lord or Lady. In Britain, the term Viscount/Viscountess was first used in the fourteenth century, during King Henry VI’s reign, who was crowned as the King of England and France and wanted to merge the titles of the two countries. BARON/BARONESS: Baron/Baroness come last in five grades of honour, which originally meant ‘free man’, who were summoned by the King to attend Parliament. The baron or baroness can be addressed as Lord or Lady. Complied by Aman Kanth