Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1908-03-13
RULES OF The KING.
Formalities When Edward VII. At
tends a Public Dinner.

tends a Public Dinner.
When his majesty is to preside at
public dinner a variety of formalities
have to be rigidly observed. In the
/ first place, the invitation. including a
list Of the committee, the toast list and
the speakers, must be received at
! Buckingham palace at least a month
or six weeks ahead Of the date pro-
posed for the function. 1t is then sub
mitted to the king by his private secre-
tary. and if the date does not clash
with arrangements made previously. all
other details being in order, the invita-
ton is graciously accepted.
statement must also be sent an
nouncing the hour at which the func-
tion is to begin and when it is expected
to end. These two points are most es-
Sential, as royalty and punctuality are
anonymous terms. Moreover, the king
does not care to spend more than a GER
tain number Of hours at any public
dinner; therefore speeches and other
matters have to be arranged accord
ingly
After these necessary preliminaries |
have been satisfactorily arranged the |
day on which the banquet is to take |
place is awaited. An hour or so be- |
fore the commencement Of the dinner |
an official arrives at the banquetlng
hall. It is his duty to examine the
plan of the tables and to see that the
chair Of the king is suitably placed so
as to be free from drafts, noises and
other disturbing influences. This Off
cial is exceedingly fastidlOus, and his
word is law On not a few occasions
be has thrown every one into a state
Of CONSERVATION by demanding a
change in the arrangements Of a dinner
At the eleventh hour. The require
nents of his majesty in these and 9th
IT matters, however, are now so well
Known that mistakes are Of rare oc-
,urTence.
As soon as the seating arrangements
lave been passed" the special wine
which the illustrious guest is to drink
Irrives In charge Of a royal servant.
Members of the royal family always
end their own wine TO public dinners r
nd in many cases their own special
,rands of cigars also. The wine is in it
he charge of a responsible servant in
he employ Of the royal household,
whose duty 1t IS to stand behind the z
hair of his master and wait upon him.
Special attention has to be paid to
he menu, care being taken that the
ard contains an assortment of dishes
or which the more important mem
Of 60 hfv
ection The menu is usually short and
arely exceeds four or five courses.
'rivate servants always attend exclu-
lively to the requirements of the royal
uests.
Like most of his subjects, his majes-
+ has dining whims. He viii on no
ccount, for instance, allow two knives
} lie on the table before him together
is believed that the king puts some
nth in the well known superstition
nat i'll comes from the crossing Of
hives Let this be as it may. at all
nners held at Buckingham palace
can knife is placed beside each guest W
18th every course, and this rule must m
, rigidly observed at all public as well If
private dinners attended by his br
ajesty. And his servants take special ge
ins 10 see that it is so.
Dinner must be served as soon as his
ajesty is seated None save mem
rs of the royal family Is expected to sol
inverse with the king until addressed on
him, and a stranger must on no ac- bu
unit attempt conversation without a dill
rmal Introduction. The royal visitor tn
exceedingly particular on this point
d is most precise in Indicating those
whom he wishes to be introduced.
70 one is permitted to leave the ia =
: at a public dinner until all the
,mbers of the royal family have first
en- and retired. The king rarely
okes at public functions. but a spe-
i room is usually set aside for his
ljesty's accommodation should he
sh to do sO.-London Tit-Bits.