Etiquette and “English People”

Queen Victoria Giving the Bible to an African Chief (The Secret of England’s Greatness) —Image of painting by Thomas Jones Barker

“HOW TO TREAT ENGLISH PEOPLE”

THE highest lady in the realm, Queen Victoria, is always addressed by the ladies and gentlemen of her household, and by all members of the aristocracy and gentry, as “Ma’am,” not “Madam,” or “Your Majesty,” but simply, “Yes, ma'am,” “No, ma'am.” All classes not coming within the category of gentry, such as the lower professional classes, the middle classes, the lower middle classes, the lower classes (servants), would address her as “Your Majesty,” and not as “Ma’am.” The Prince of Wales is addressed as “Sir” by the aristocracy and gentry, and never as “Your Royal Highness” by either of these classes, but by all other people he is addressed as “Your Royal Highness.”

The other sons of Queen Victoria are addressed as “Sir” by the upper classes, but as “Your Royal Highness” by the middle and lower classes, and by all persons not coming within the category of gentry; and by gentry, English people mean not only the landed gentry, but all persons belonging to the army and navy, the clergy, the bar, the medical and other professions, the aristocracy of art (Sir Edward Poynter, the President of the Royal Academy, can always claim a private audience with the sovereign), the aris tocracy of wealth, merchant princes, and the leading City merchants and bankers. The Princess of Wales and all the princesses of the blood royal are addressed as “Ma’am” by the aristocracy and gentry, but as “Your Royal Highness” by all other classes.

A foreign prince is addressed as “Prince” and “Sir” by the aristocracy and gentry, and as “Your Serene Highness” by all other classes; and a foreign princess would be addressed as “Princess” by the aristocracy, or “Your Serene Highness” by the lower grades, but never as “Ma’am.”— From “Manners and Social Usages,” by Mrs. Sherwood, 1884

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