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| HRH Queen Elizabeth II ~ Address her as ‘Your Majesty’ at first and after that, as ‘Ma'am’ - rhyming with jam or ham, not palm, or harm. |
The Royal Household staff start laying the table for a banquet two days before the event, although preparations will have been underway for days before this. One of the most striking elements on the banqueting table is the magnificent service of silver gilt. It comprises not only the dining place itself, but also decorative items such as dessert stands and centerpieces. Numbering over 4,000 pieces, the service was commissioned by George IV when he was Prince of Wales, and it was supplied by the Royal goldsmiths Rundell, Bridge and Rundell.
At a famous dinner held at Carlton House in 1811, the Prince sat against a backdrop of silver guilt at the head of a table that stretched the entire length of the building. Along the centre of the table was running stream of water with banks of moss and aquatic flowers, cascading from a waterfall and falling into a series of pools at the foot of the table. Real fish swam in the stream. In this contemporary caricature (below), the fish are disconcerting the guests by staring at them.
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29 June 1811, Hand-coloured etching ~ A farmer (John Bull) and his family gape in amazement at the arrangements for the Regency fête on 19 June. The narrow table extends across the design receding from left to right, the cloth hanging over the seats of chairs in the foreground. The famous canal decorates the centre of the table with its gold and silver fish, and the table is laid with gold plate, and ornate cut-glass goblets and decanters labelled 'Dry Champain', 'Claret', and 'Burgundy'. There are three-branched gold candelabra. The Prince's chair is on the extreme right; beside it stand a man in livery and an attendant in plain clothes. Behind the chair large ornate gold salvers are arranged on shelves covered with white drapery. This was 'a kind of circular buffet . . . lined by festoons and antique draperies of pink and silver'. The sightseers are on the farther side of the table (left) with their backs to the windows, John in the centre; he says, pointing: "Why Odd Zookers this is marvellous fine indeed. Oh Nan how we should relish a rasher on one of they monstracious beautifull Plates, why now I think I shan't grumble to pay three or four Bank Tokens towards this grand treat—methinks I should Just like a nippikin too." His wife puts out her hands protestingly: "Oh John one of our milk white Chickens roasted by myself by our wood fire would be Luscioscious indeed." His daughter says: "La Feather do zee how they gilded Fishes be stareing at yow." There are three loutish sons; one says: "I say Sue I thinks I should not like that dry Shampain, but a Dobbin of our home brewed in that there gilded gold thing would be dreadfully noice indeed"; another (looking up at the (invisible) ceiling : "Dang it if the top 0 the pleace beant all Eel pottles I'll be hang'd. |
The Grand Service includes 14 tureens, 20 sauce tureens, 140 dishes, 288 dinner plates, 118 salts, 12 ice pails, 12 mirrored plateaux, 58 desert stands and centerpieces and 107 candelabra. Unlike a modern dinner service, it has no single style of decoration. The goldsmiths of the day were influenced by Greek, Roman, Egyptian and other styles.
Originally some parts of the service for plain silver, although items intended for the desert course we're always gilt. However, George IV gradually ordered every piece to be gilded. This may have been because of the impression gained by one visitor to a ball at Carton House in n 1814: "All was in gold or silver gilt which made the silver plate, set out in the deep recessed windows, look cold and poor, although in reality it was very massive and handsome."
Today the Grand Service is kept under the care of the "Yeoman of the Silver Pantry." When not in use, it is kept in a controlled atmosphere. For a State Banquet it must be at its most gleaming and every piece is taken apart, thoroughly washed and cleaned with soft brushes, then dried and polished with soft cloths before being placed on the table. When everything is dismantled, there are over 8,000 components to clean. It takes 8 people 3 weeks to prepare.The Grand Service provides cutlery for every course and includes more obscure items like marrow scoops, ice spades and olive spoons. Today over 2000 pieces of cutlery are needed to serve and eat the banquet all drawn from the Grand Service.
The Queen's table is always decorated in the most magnificent style. She and her most important guest are usually flanked by the grandest pair of candelabra in the service -- which stand at 1.25 metres (4 ft) tall. These were designed by the sculptor John Flaxman and relate episodes from myths of Bacchus and Mercury. The Queen uses a salt that is not part of the Grand Service but was made much earlier, in 1721, by Nicholas Clausen.
At Windsor, on the single long table, a candelabrum portraying St. George and the Dragon is used -- this stands even taller at almost 1.5 metres (5 ft.) This huge piece was William IV's contribution to the elder brother's dinner service -- a final addition to the grandeur that has served every monarch since George IV.
The Etiquette at the Table:
At the dining table, don't start eating until the The Queen has started her meal.
When it comes to utensils, start at the outside (with the outermost spoon or fork) and work in. If you drop something, don't make a fuss - servants will spot it and deal with it.
Watch for clues and cues with regard to how to properly use your utensils. Let others who have been there before, guide your actions.
It goes without saying that taking large gulps of your wines, talking with your mouth full, any loud slurping or chewing, and eating with your mouth open, are all the poorest of table manners.
Don't think about asking the Queen to "Please pass the salt." She has her own salt dip, or salt cellar.
When she has finished her course and stops eating, you have finished your course, too.
Asking for seconds is never allowed, as is asking to be excused to use the restroom facilities.
Originally some parts of the service for plain silver, although items intended for the desert course we're always gilt. However, George IV gradually ordered every piece to be gilded. This may have been because of the impression gained by one visitor to a ball at Carton House in n 1814: "All was in gold or silver gilt which made the silver plate, set out in the deep recessed windows, look cold and poor, although in reality it was very massive and handsome."
Today the Grand Service is kept under the care of the "Yeoman of the Silver Pantry." When not in use, it is kept in a controlled atmosphere. For a State Banquet it must be at its most gleaming and every piece is taken apart, thoroughly washed and cleaned with soft brushes, then dried and polished with soft cloths before being placed on the table. When everything is dismantled, there are over 8,000 components to clean. It takes 8 people 3 weeks to prepare.The Grand Service provides cutlery for every course and includes more obscure items like marrow scoops, ice spades and olive spoons. Today over 2000 pieces of cutlery are needed to serve and eat the banquet all drawn from the Grand Service.
The Queen's table is always decorated in the most magnificent style. She and her most important guest are usually flanked by the grandest pair of candelabra in the service -- which stand at 1.25 metres (4 ft) tall. These were designed by the sculptor John Flaxman and relate episodes from myths of Bacchus and Mercury. The Queen uses a salt that is not part of the Grand Service but was made much earlier, in 1721, by Nicholas Clausen.
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| Don't think about asking the Queen to "Please pass the salt." She has her own salt dip, or salt cellar, and it is not part of the 8,000 plus pieces used for State Dinners. |
At Windsor, on the single long table, a candelabrum portraying St. George and the Dragon is used -- this stands even taller at almost 1.5 metres (5 ft.) This huge piece was William IV's contribution to the elder brother's dinner service -- a final addition to the grandeur that has served every monarch since George IV.
- Takes two days to lay the 175ft-long dining table at Buckingham Palace
- Each place setting measures 45cm and a rod is used to achieve the exact alignment of chair and table
- 1,104 glasses are used, six for each guest
- George IV's 4,000-piece Grand Service is used
- Takes eight people three weeks to clean the service
- 170 linen napkins, with the Queen's monogram, are folded by one man in the shape of a Dutch bonnet
The Etiquette at the Table:
At the dining table, don't start eating until the The Queen has started her meal.
When it comes to utensils, start at the outside (with the outermost spoon or fork) and work in. If you drop something, don't make a fuss - servants will spot it and deal with it.
Watch for clues and cues with regard to how to properly use your utensils. Let others who have been there before, guide your actions.
It goes without saying that taking large gulps of your wines, talking with your mouth full, any loud slurping or chewing, and eating with your mouth open, are all the poorest of table manners.
Don't think about asking the Queen to "Please pass the salt." She has her own salt dip, or salt cellar.
When she has finished her course and stops eating, you have finished your course, too.
Asking for seconds is never allowed, as is asking to be excused to use the restroom facilities.
Sources; BBC News, The Royal Collection and "For the Royal Table: Dining at the Palace"
Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia
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