Etiquette Fit for Royal Visit

The Duke and Duchess of Connaught with Princess Patricia and Prince Arthur.

White House is Ready for the Prince’s Visit 

Simple Ceremonies Will Mark Reception Accorded Duke of Connaught

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.—Arrangements for the reception tomorrow of the Duke of Connaught were completed by the White House and the State Department tonight. The uncle of one King, and brother of another, will be received as simply as is consistent with etiquette. As the Duchess and the Princess Patricia will not visit Washington, the Duke will go through the program aranged for his reception unsupported, except for the British ambassador, James Bryce, the staff of the British embassy and his personal aide, Colonel Lowther. Altogether his stay in the capital will be brief, and during most of his six or seven hours in Washington he will be on home territory within the acre or two covered by the British embassy. 

According to the announcement given out at the White House the Duke will arrive in Washington at 4:20 tomorrow afternoon. Major A.W. Butt, personal aide of President Taft, will meet the Duke at the Union Station and with the British ambassador and the embassy staff will form his escort to the embassy. At 5 o'clock, the Duke is expected to reach the White House. He will be led away from the embassy in a White House motor, accompanied by a squadron of cavalry. The cavalry will form an escort of honor to the portico of  the executive mansion and will deploy on the driveway in front, while he enters to be received. In front of the porte-cochère the Fifteenth Cavalry band will be stationed and as the Royal visitor enters it will play “God Save the King.” 

The Duke will be received by President Taft in much the same way as new ambassadors are received. As he enters the executive mansion he will be met by the military and naval aids of the President and escorted to the Green Room and then taken to the Blue Room, with the British ambassador and Chandler Hale, third Assistant Secretary of State. He will be presented formally to President Taft by the British, ambassador. After the Duke is introduced his staff will be presented. After this, Mrs. Taft will serve tea for the Duke and the ambassador in the Red Room. Members of the cabinet and their wives have been invited to be present. 

The Duke will leave the White House after this informal, reception is over, and the band outside will play “The Star Spangled Banner.” The squadron of cavalry will escort him back to the British embassy, and shortly, after he has stepped on British territory again, the President, accompanied by Major Butt, will return his “call.” So far as the government is concerned, this will end the Duke’s visit to Washington. Unofficially, it is known that afterward the Duke will be the guest at dinner of the British ambassador, and it is understood he will hold a reception for diplomats and government officials, but beyond his visit to the White House and the President's return trip, nothing was known tonight of the first visit of British Royalty to Washington in many years. – San Francisco Call, 1912

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

Royal Etiquette for Afghan Prince

In 1895 the Emir Abdur Rahman Khan had intended to undertake a state visit to England, but his health prevented him from making the trip, and so he sent his son the Shahzada Nasrullah Khan, in his place. Nasrullah departed Bombay on April 29, 1895, with a group of priests for the observance of religious functions and high-ranking Afghan nobles – an entourage which totaled over 90. On May 23 the Shahzada landed at Portsmouth in England. He was received by the Queen at Windsor Castle, and during his trip he made a gift of £2,500 to Abdullah Quilliam to support the work of the Liverpool Muslim Institute, visited the Liverpool Overhead Railway, went to Ascot, Glasgow, and the Elswick Company Gun Range at Blitterlees Banks.

All who know Afghanistan were well convinced that neither the ruler, nor his heir apparent would leave their native country. As a matter of courtesy the invitation was addressed to the Ameer and the latter accepted it, “health permitting,” but from the first, all who are posted on the subject were confident that the Ameer would not leave Cabul. It was, however generally believed that the eldest son would represent his father, and it was somewhat of a disappointment when it was announced that the second son— who, by the way, is the child of a slave woman – would visit the capital of his father’s ally. Considerable difficulty as to the etiquette to be observed was felt, and until about a week before the Prince’s arrival it had not been settled how he was to be styled. As everything, however, has been smoothed over, the authorities are seeking to impress upon the young Afghan, the greatness of the British Empire, and by this means to confirm the Ameer to his preference for Great Britain over his near neighbor, Russia.

From the moment the young Prince— he is only 23 years of age— set foot on British soil he was received in right royal form and with every possible distinction. Addresses innumerable have been presented to him. He has been received by the highest officials everywhere, and his journey here was one long series of receptions. The Prince, as already stated, brought with him a large suite and detachment of Afghan troops. Being a Mohammedan, the religious peculiarities of the Moslem have had to be taken into consideration. Among his attendants are a number of cooks to prepare their leader’s food in accordance with Moslem customs. He has also in attendance upon him Colonel Talbot of the Foreign Department of the Indian Government, and T. A. Martin, the Afghan agent. Throughout his six weeks’ stay in this country the Prince will be received as the Shahzada (son of a King). He is attended by Royal escorts, has been received by the Queen, is received by Royalty, and will, in fact, have a Royal progress until his departure. – San Francisco Call, 1895

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia