Etiquette of a Royal Palate

 “There is no worthier accomplishment for a man with a moustache than to take soup in an inoffensive manner… and by no means should the moustache be used to strain the soup.” Cornelia Dobbs’ 1908 “Guide to Manners” 

You wouldn't believe it from those fierce mustaches of his, but King Humberto of Italy has so great an affection for custards, and very sweet ones at that, that he would get up in the night to partake of one. To vary the custard eaten by ordinary mortals, however, this Royal personage has his flavored with tea.

Dishes That Kings and Queens are Fond Of ...

The saying “fit to set before a King” has rather lost its significance in these days when everybody knows what everybody else does, and when no two, be they Kings or commoners, do any one thing alike. It is safe to say, however, that Royalty, like the rest of human beings lives as “high” as circumstances will permit till dread indigestion waits on their appetites and makes life miserable for them. Queen Victoria, in her earlier years, though perhaps not being strictly speaking a gourmet, was fond of good things and plenty of them, but of late she has had to shade down both quality and quantity, till she is almost on the verge of being a vegetarian. 

The Prince of Wales probably has the art of dining down as fine as any gentleman, titled or otherwise, in the world. What he doesn't know about dining and the like isn't worth knowing. The Kaiser also knows palatable dishes when he sees them, though he hasn't the respect amounting to reverence that characterizes his uncle, Albert Edward, for a properly cooked and served dinner. Germany’s ruler cares for game, feathered game, more than for any other viand, affecting a special fondness for salmi or stew made of thrushes. Another Royal example of ability to recognize a good thing is furnished by the Czar of Russia, who is just disloyal enough to his country to confess publicly a preference for French cooking; this, however, doesn't say that he does not care for Russian cooking. In fact, it is said that a happy combination of French and Russian manners and methods is what tickles the palate of the Czar of all the Russias beyond expression. 

You wouldn't believe it from those fierce mustaches of his, but King Humberto of Italy has so great an affection for custards, and very sweet ones at that, that he would get up in the night to partake of one. To vary the custard eaten by ordinary mortals, however, this Royal personage has his flavored with tea. Queen Wilhelmina has an appetite that would do credit to any peasant in her domain, and no finicky things for her, if you please. She will have roast beef, mutton and fillet of beef and rump steak as her regular diet, and at her feasts on great occasions, also, if she can have her own way. Another Queen who goes in for roast beef is Christina, Regent of Spain. It isn't that she is over fond of this diet herself, but she believes firmly in its strength producing virtues, and she in this way sets her young son an example, for the young King needs considerable toning up by way of diet. All of which goes to show that royalties don't dine every day from nightingales’ tongues and the like, even though they might, nor upon any other, impossible viand.—Epicure, 1900

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

Etiquette, Dignity and Position

Queen Wilhelmina — Although she is a warm-hearted woman, she is mindful of the dignity of her position.

Holland’s Little Queen

Queen Wilhelmina of Holland never under any circumstances makes use of a closed carriage excepting at night. No matter whether it is cold or hot, whether it snows, rains or storms, she invariably drives about in an open equipage, in full view of her subjects, accustomed thereto from her infancy by her mother, who trained her in the most admirable manner for her mission as a constitutional sovereign.

She is usually accompanied by a lady-in-waiting as sole escort, and, although she is a warm-hearted woman, she is mindful of the dignity of her position. Thus the other day when she met an officer while out driving, who happened to be the brother of her lady-in-waiting, she returned his military salute with a most gracious smile and inclination of the head. But noticing that her companion had waved her hand in a familiar way to her brother, she frowned and exclaimed coldly: "I should be much obliged to you, my dear, if you would avoid these little family effusions when you have the honor to accompany me."

True, after she reached home, the Queen endeavored by every means in her power to atone for the chagrin to which she had subjected her attendant, and among other things, presented her with a handsome piece of jewelry. But the lady, while restored to favor, is not likely to forget the lesson which she has received or even to render herself again guilty of such a breach of etiquette. The Queen is jealous of her prerogatives, as she showed at the time of the trip to Europe of old President Kruger.

It was she alone to whom belonged the initiative of placing a Dutch man-of-war at his disposal for the journey, and when the Ministers, assembled in Cabinet council, ventured to question the policy of this move, pointing out to her that it might cause complications with foreign, powers notably with England, she exclaimed sharply: "The constitution invests me with the supreme command of the navy, as well as of the army, and, as far as they are concerned, my Ministers have no other duty than to insure the prompt execution of my orders." The Ministers looked at one another in dismay, offered no further objections and fulfilled her directions, with the result that the cruiser Gelderland was dispatched to Delagoa Bay to embark President Kruger and to bring him to Europe.

The young Queen, in addition to her private secretary's department, has organized a sort of private political chancellery, which is entrusted with the duty of making a brief explanatory report of every document submitted to her for signature. She absolutely declines to sign any paper unless she has a sort of "précis," containing the necessary information about the matter for which her sign manual is required. 

If the report appears to her to be inadequate, she asks for further data, and, if necessary, even summons Ministers or experts to her presence in order to obtain the fullest kind of explanation. Not only her Ministers, but likewise every official of the Dutch Government service knows this, and the result is that in the hope of avoiding all unnecessary detail every one endeavors to make the matter in question as clear and concise as possible. — The San Francisco Call, 1901

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

Etiquette and Religious Principles

The Dutch journalist, statesman and Neo-Calvinist theologian, Abraham Kuyper, raised modest and religious daughters. They were not slaves to fashion, and asked that Dutch Court dress etiquette be relaxed. They were offered tea instead.

Low-Necked Dresses Cause a Court Row

********************

Daughters of the Dutch Premier Decline to Observe Rules at The Hague

LONDON. March 22. — Court etiquette and religious scruples have had an amusing tussle at The Hague. The trouble arose when the daughters of Dr. Kuyper, the Premier, were invited to the first court ball of the season. Low-necked dresses were commanded, but the Misses Kuyper decided that decollete dresses were inconsistent with their religious principles. 

They applied for a dispensation, but received a curt reply from the mistress of the ceremonies, who declared that time-honored customs of the Dutch Court must be adhered to. Premier Kuyper made direct representations on the subject to Queen Wilhelmina, with the result that a compromise was arranged. 

The Misses Kuyper will stay away from the ball, but will take tea with their sovereign in high-necked dresses the same afternoon. — San Francisco Call, 1902

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

Etiquette and Girls in Crowns

Alexandra Fyodorovna was Empress consort of Russia as the spouse of Nicholas II, the last Emperor of the Russian Empire. A granddaughter of Queen Victoria, she was born "Alix of Hesse and by Rhine." She was given the name Alexandra Fyodorovna upon being received into the Russian Orthodox Church. Alexandra was also a maternal great-aunt of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and first cousin twice-removed to his wife Queen Elizabeth II. In 2000, the Russian Orthodox Church canonized her as "Saint Alexandra the Passion Bearer."

Girls Who Wear Crowns

The evident beauty of the Russian Empress' face is so overshadowed by an expression of patient, pathetic melancholy that she arouses sympathy and curiosity in everyone. Undoubtedly the Czarina is not a happy woman. Russian Empresses have little enough to inspire content, and this pale, pretty creature with the sad eyes and mouth, endures daily such tests of her physical strength and moral courage as few American women would care or consent, for all the Russian state and power, to undergo.

Her husband, on the whole, is a kindly young man who is considerate, even affectionate, but he can do very little to mitigate the severe, even cruel, Russian court etiquette to which she must bow. With her he shares the daily terror of assassination, and with his people he laments the fact that the Empress has not yet given an heir to his throne. 

In spite of her beauty and her virtues, the Empress is not loved by the Russian people nor consulted and confided in by her husband as her mother-in-law, Empress Dagmar, the dowager, was. She has neither the robust physique nor the ambitious interests of the clever dowager, and court intrigues, squabbles, and etiquette distress, disgust and fatigue her.

It is a fact well known that up to the very day before her betrothal, she resisted the change of her religion and Christian name that every Russian Empress consort must yield to. Again and again, she has fainted at the long receptions, balls and reviews through which, in spite of her illness, she is obliged to stand, and the only true comfort and solace she finds in her dreary splendor is the personal services and attentions she is allowed to lavish on her tiny girls. 

In sharp contrast to this sad-faced Empress of the vastest domain in Europe, is the young, pretty Queen of the tiniest, cleanest, freest little kingdom on that continent. The Queen of Holland lives far more like a popular, petted young belle of society than a sovereign. While the Czarina never puts her foot out of her door without the heaviest guard, Queen Wilhelmina goes shopping, walking, skating and riding when the whim seizes her, with a single attendant, and that often but a favorite lady in waiting. 

For all her love of junketing, dancing and outdoor sports the Dutch Queen is a conscientious worker, and just now she feels deeply interested in the International Peace Congress that meets on the 18th of May in one of her palaces, the House-on-the-Wood, just outside The Hague. — The Sacramento Daily Union, 1899

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