Leopold's Belgian Royal Etiquette

King Leopold's was an ultra-ceremonious Court, making up in strict attention to every detail of Royal etiquette for the smallness of the Kingdom. 

Royalty is handsomely lodged in Belgium. A spacious summer home at Ostend, a Palace in Brussels larger than the Treasury building at Washington, and an ornate chateau in a magnificent park in tbe suburb of Lacken afford Mr. and Mrs. Leopold and family places for worrying through life with a tolerable certainty of always having a comfortable roof over their heads. 

The Court oscillates between the Palaces at Brussels and Lacken, with the King's predilections rather in favor of the latter. It is an ultra-ceremonious Court, making up in strict attention to every detail of Royal etiquette for the smallness of the Kingdom. 

The Diplomats of Europe quartered in Brussels seem to agree that it is an excellent place to acquire a knowledge of all punctilious observances, and that an Ambassador or Minister who has served a term here can be sent elsewhere or return home, serene in the knowledge that he has learned his trade and will find no other Court where greater or more elaborate ceremony is extended and expected. — Los Angeles Herald, 1888

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

Diplomat Broke Belgian Etiquette

Woodcut of Li Huang Chang (or Li Hongzhang) with Otto von Bismarck in 1896 ~
Li Hongzhang was a Chinese politician, general and diplomat of the late Qing dynasty. Quelling several major rebellions and serving in important positions in the Qing Imperial court, he was also the Viceroy of Zhili Province.

Li Hung Chang has earned the thanks of all inveterate smokers. He has broken down the rule of the Belgian Court etiquette, which strictly forbids smoking in the State apartments, by the simple process of taking out a long pipe, and, after it had been filled by his secretary, smoking it. 

King Leopold, though, we doubt not, a good deal astonished, rose to the occasion admirably. He at once caused cigarettes to be handed round, with the result that Li Hung Chang soon found his position no longer one of "splendid isolation." — San Francisco Call, 1896

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