What a Queen May Not Do

Any one who wishes to send the Queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gilt letters on one of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it. These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the Queen is kindly and thrifty, but for the Queen’s presence they are imperative. 

Queen Victoria Denied Many Things Her Humblest Subject Enjoys

Queen Victoria, not being born a Queen, probably learned to read just like other persons. But after she became afflicted with Royalty, she found that a Queen is not allowed to have a great many privileges that the humblest of her subjects can boast. For instance, she is not allowed to handle a newspaper of any kind, nor a magazine, nor a letter from any person except her own family, and no member of the Royal family or household is allowed to speak to her of any piece of news in any publication. 

All the information the Queen is permitted to have must first be strained through tbe intellect of a man whose business it is to cut out from the papers each day what he thinks she would like to know. These scraps he fastens on a silk sheet with a gold fringe all about it and presents to her unfortunate Majesty. This silken sheet with gold fringe is imperative for all communications to the Queen. 

Any one who wishes to send the Queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gilt letters on one of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it. These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the Queen is kindly and thrifty, but for the Queen’s presence they are imperative. 

The deprivations of the Queen’s life are pathetically illustrated by an incident which occurred not long ago. An American lady sent her Majesty an immense collection of the flowers of this country, pressed and mounted. The Queen was delighted with the collection and kept it for three months, running over the leaves frequently with great delight. At the end of that time, which was as long as she was allowed by court etiquette to keep it, she had it sent back with a letter saying that, being Queen of England she was not allowed to have any gifts, and that she parted from it with deep regret. This passes for good nursery government in this country, but would hardly be accepted among adults, let alone Queens. - The Philadelphia Inquirer, 1892

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

Royal Dignity and Etiquette Melted

Rare photo of Queen Victoria dining with members of her family. The Queen was well-known for her terrible table manners. It was said she could easily put away nine courses in 30 minutes.

Queen Victoria’s Dignity Melted

Just about this time, and for a month or more longer, look out for anecdotes of Queen Victoria. There promises to be a large crop of them, and many are already being harvested. Some are quite true and authentic, while more are not, but it is never a good plan to spoil a readable story because of a little question of veracity. 

One of the most recent Victorian anecdotes is told by a correspondent of the Chicago Times-Herald, who declares that Victoria has ever been very exacting in the matter of Court etiquette. When she holds a reception she always insists upon the performance of every detail of custom. Persons who are fortunate enough to be invited to Court have, therefore, to drill themselves and rehearse their parts, for fear of offending the Queen by any little neglect of manners. Now and then, however Her Majesty unbends. 

On one occasion, in very hot weather, she was receiving a line of sweltering noblemen and ladies. Everybody was suffering from the heat. The Queen turned to an attendant suddenly and exclaimed: “My! Ain't it hot!” It is Court etiquette never to contradict royalty, and the lady addressed replied: “Yes, madam, you are!” On this occasion the Queen forgot both her manners and her grammar.– Placer Herald, 1897

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