Diplomat Broke Royal Court Etiquette

The real identity of Diplomat, “Multy Millions,” may never be known. His name is not mentioned in the article or the story– In 1867, a serious illness accentuated a hereditary deafness that Alexandra suffered from and also left her lame. In turn, she devoted much of her time, and also her income, to the poor and suffering. As Queen, Alexandra founded the Imperial Military Nursing Service in 1902 and started Alexandra Rose Day to raise funds for British hospitals.

Royal Court Etiquette:

“Multy Millions” Fractured It and Lost His Diplomatic Post

A witty New York society man said, at a dinner, apropos of court etiquette: “Court etiquette is, after all, very like ordinary etiquette-the laws of common sense govern it.

“Did you ever hear how Multy Millions lost his under secretaryship at our legation in London? Multy deserved his fate. His common sense was lamentably lacking.

“It happened years and years ago. King Edward had just come into his own, and Multy Millions was dining for the first time at Buckingham Palace.

“The dinner was a state one. The splendid gold plate from Windsor glittered on table and sideboard. To Multy, when the entremets came on, the deaf Queen Alexandra asked: ‘How long have you been living abroad, Mr. Millions?’

‘Four years, ma'am,’ Multy replied in a loud voice, for he knew enough, of course. to speak high and to say ‘ma'am.’

‘What? I did not hear,’ said Queen Alexandra. ‘Four years, ma'am,’ Multy shouted.

But she repeated, ‘What?’

“Then Multy leaned forward, and, with a polite and amiable smile, he waved four fingers to and fro before Queen Alexandra’s face. He resigned the next morning.” – The Exchange, 1912

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia