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My late mum, God Bless her soul, went into service at the age of 14. There was NOTHING she didn’t know about ‘table manners’ and ‘etiquette’. She knew how to lay a table perfectly and she was an expert cook. I grew up with all this as a natural way of life. We didn’t have fine and fancy things but mum was a very good house keeper and a very loving mother. Still, to this very day, I’m fussy about my bed linens, household linens etc and it’s def from mum. I remember as a young woman I taught myself to crotchet, in particular I did Irish lace…. one Christmas I gifted to mum a table doily and 4 lengths of lace that were the size of a pillowcase opening so she cd stitch the lace on to whatever pillowcases she wanted. She cried tears and said she had never had something so ‘posh’. She had laundered many a fine lace pillowcase or garment but she never thought she would have something like that of her own. She told me hundreds of stories about her life ‘below stairs’, some good, some VERY funny but sadly some were horrendous. But all the stories are lodged in my mind with fondness.
Beautiful memories and heartwarming, thank you for sharing them with us! My grandmother born 1900 and died 2004 was the same and years later as I became a grandmother myself, I was fortunate enough to still have my grandmother around and I interviewed her about her life, so I have it all written down and she was a really funny lady. One that often put her foot in it when she shouldn't and the we cried with laughter at many of her stories of times gone by! :0) x
Wow Great Minds think alike, I also knit & crochet, for bridal shower or a wedding gift, I will crochet some trim/lace and will sew it onto the pillow cases, and top sheet, I'll gift the sheet set with a matching homemade afghan.
They have rules. As a nurse, I cared for a woman who was a cousin to the Queen. Now I understand why, at the first formal dinner party she attended young Elizabeth (age 6) teased my patient ( age 13), who had just arrived to England for her education .
@@JenningsCraftsBoutique yes I always had to ask, " May I be excused?" Before I left the table too. Often times the answer was no. When my father was finished was when we were all able to leave of we wished, but rarely before.
@@mplight2941 Yes I remember those days well lol. Plus, we had to clear our plates and was always told that there were hungry children in the world who didn't even know what it was that we had on our plates... We were poor and bloody hungry often, so it wasn't that much for us either!
That's an interesting, but fun - and sometimes stressful - job to get in to. You don't see that position often other than in the military, at an embassy, or in a sovereign's household.
I too was sort of a protocol officer for a military defense contractor. It was my responsibility to school executives in customs and regulations of foreign countries they would travel to. The most interesting was gift-giving and the proper way to present or wrap a gift even down to the color of wrapping paper and the pronunciation of the gift's name. Sometimes the word for a gift in English could sound offensive in another language. Best job I ever had. Then I went to work for Lawyers, ugg.
@@sentimentalwoman4540 very interesting! You caught my attention with the word, “gift.” When first learning German, that was one of the more amusing “false friends.” 😂
There’s more than one proper way.. We were taught table manners and how to sit like a lady…. I have always thought while watching Brits eating on back of their fork, having raked the food on with a knife looked like ‘eating like a pig’. I’ll keep changing my fork to my right hand.
I am an American, but once found myself eating dinner with some rather posh folks in Wales. During the soup course, I realized that I would put my spoon into the bowl and scoop towards myself, and everyone else scooped away from themselves. My husband knew to scoop away as well, and I questioned him later about where he learned that particular rule. He said it was from watching Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton) eat dinner served by Alfred, and that he knew Alfred would've taught him correctly! :-) It still makes me laugh.
I wouldn't worry too much about which way you scoop up your soup as no one would have noticed especially when there are more important things going on in the world such as people dying in Afghanistan or from lack of NHS healthcare just like 1 poor man who phoned in to a talk show to say that he's got 12 months to live as his Doctor wouldn't do face to face appointments due to the lockdowns so they missed his cancer and he would have been ok if they'd picked up on it sooner!!
Hi, I’m a American married to an RAF Officer. Our first year of marriage, I had lunch with the Queen. Thank goodness my mother taught my sisters and me impeccable table manners and how to curtesy growing up. Lunch was a wonderful experience and I adore the Queen, she is a lovely lady. Lunch was formal and as you said, quite fast ending before I had finished but I didn’t mind stopping. Quite funny, really.
Growing up, I ate many meals with my British grandmother so your knife and fork rules are second nature to me. Tea, of course, was served and consumed in a particular way. She did suggest that one should sit up straight, never allowing one's back to touch the back of the chair. I loved her dearly and still fondly recall everything about her. Thank you for your tutorial. So fun.
My dorm mother taught us that, when seated at the table, a mouse should fit between you and the table; and a cat between you and the back of the chair. The back of the chair is NOT for leaning on- in fancy settings, the footmen need something to grab when pulling out the chair for you! :-)
I met the queen and her husband in an alley in my hometown of San Antonio, Texas. It's not like you think because the ally was paved like a street and it was behind the Convention Center Arena downtown where deliveries are made for events there. It's very clean, there's no trash back there and no graffiti. Me and a handful of people were there behind a a yellow caution tape that taped off a small area. She came out with her husband and went towards a street car/trolly that was going to ride along with a parade in her honor. When she came out she was very close to us, so I thought I should say something or else I would lose my chance. I said, hi your Majesties, welcome to San Antonio and we all are happy to have you. She said, oh thank you, thank you so much for coming. I said hello sir to her husband and he said hello and nodded. I thought she was pretty cool and they were so classy.
Hi fellow Texan, what a rare, unexpected pleasure it must have been to meet the Queen! I didn’t realize she visited our great state, do you remember what year it was? I live in Plano but love San Antonio. The river walk, the great Tex-Mex and margaritas, and I’ve always loved the Alamo history and the legends who fought and died there. I bought a gorgeous hand carved jewelry box there celebrating my first anniversary there in the early 90’s, lots of fond memories of SA. Crazy times at the border! Hope y’all don’t get overrun.
Darling, alley is spelled like this with an e-y on the end. Ally means someone who is on your side of an issue. And you may want to brush up on your subjective case pronouns. In any case, I’m glad that you got to meet the Queen and Prince Philip, how exciting!
Hello Julie: Thank you for this tutorial. I suggest that you add a side note about the napkin (wait until the host/hostess places theirs before you place yours), and where the cutlery is placed. Also, when asked to pass the salt, you always pass both salt and pepper; and pass condiments to the right. When I was in High School in NYC, the nuns would drill us on table manners as part of our education. When I lived in London, my host and other guests would watch me at tea and at dinner clearly hoping to catch a gaffe. Once in a while I heard titters of derision. It is worse manners to make a guest feel awkward than it is to use a fork in the right hand.
My Mother placed me in etiquette school when I was young and I remember every single thing, but I've only been to a couple of formal dinner parties or gatherings. I still sit with my legs together with ankles crossed unless I am at my office desk. There are so many things from not so long ago that should be implemented again. Structure is good for the soul, in my opinion. I would love to have a formal dinner party sometime at my Victorian dining hall.
It's a Wonderful Video & Story. I did meet Someone, sometimes she was called Queen 👑 or Icon🏆. I call her "Kind Woman" . I tried my best not to disturb her. Years later there would be Friendship!!! Good Wishes From Ireland ☘. 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
My parents are diplomats and my dad is very particular with etiquette and manners. I followed suit and served in my country foreign ministry for 14 years. I love your vdo explaining these basic manners which i think it is still relevant if you need to attend official events. I hope people still teach these to younger generations
My grandma married a doctor when I was really young and she tried to get me into that society stuff. Dinner parties, pageants, etc...when I was really little we went to a dinner with the governor and he was discussing music. I stood on a chair in the middle of a banquet hall and belted out the song "Sweet Georgia Brown" using my sorbet spoon as a microphone. 🤦 my mom and grandma were mortified but the governor thought it was adorable. Me, the governor, and Alan Shepard (the astronaut) took a picture together at the dinner and made the front page of the paper. The dinner had something to do with a space shuttle exhibit at a museum in Florida. I think that was one of my first formal dinner parties. 😂😂
When Sarah Ferguson married Andrew, she was gifted a tiara (now known as the York tiara) by the Queen. Turning the fork over is just NOT DONE - it’s considered somewhat vulgar.
I have always learned that we should use the fork on the right, unless we need to use the knife, which should be always on the right side. After "loading" the fork, move it to the right side and eat. Taking the food into your mouth from the left means that you don't know how to handle your fork and knife.
Thank you! As an American my mother followed the "English way!" We had tea time and she always set a perfect table. We also learned to curtsy or bow! I'm happy I've found your channel! I'm now following you!!
Learned all this from childhood and my parents were very strict on table manners xx Having lived in the USA for 30 years I see both sides and eat both ways lol xx Well done and I hope you get to meet the Queen one day xx
"What the royals do and many others is they slide the food onto the back of the fork so the tines are always pointing down. So you would cut whatever it is and you would slide that food (...it's a balancing act, wright?...) onto the back of the fork ...carefully bring it up and eat it that way!" Just out of curiosity I've tried this royal eating technique with the fork and, besides etiquette, it really helps concentrating on the food, on the texture and on the taste of the food. It also slow down the eating process for fast eating people like me. Finally: it helps enjoy the meal leaving you full/satiated (Pardon my mistakes in English!) and unexpectedly more calm. That's the way one should feel during lunch breaks. I'll try more and more this "balancing act" technique. Grazie mille!
This is basic standard etiquette, as drilled into me as a very young child if about 7 years of age,I'm now 75 years old, and I never think twice about these rules. They're ingrained into me, and I found the easiest way to remember which cutlery you were supposed to use at which time/course is to remember, from outside, to inside.
around the early 18th century, particularly in France, it became fashionable for diners to put the knife down after cutting, and swap the fork to the right hand-i.e., to cut-and-switch. The French brought that over to the States and the rest is history 😁 I think is more polite doing the switch, not switching is considered eating as a truck driver 😅 I will practice the other way, but old habits die hard my lovely 🥰 Great video ❤️
This is quite interesting and even entertaining🙈 Thanks for sharing ❤️ As a black South African, we have a British, Dutch, and to a lesser extent French and some German colonial past and I dare say, all that you've stated is pretty much entrenched in our "high" society and quite normal fare. My father attended a multiracial British Anglican boys high school in the 60s, and also taught us social etiquette of old and it's quite amusing to me that all this is quite normal for us and that is just how we behave socially as normal actually (except curtsy, of course). Growing up wearing stockings everyday was a drag, so I've decidedly dropped those but they ate still required in most SA schools. Plus if you've been to a South African private boarding school, these social rules are also easily recognizable. The only complication with us is that we have MANY African royal houses as well, some with their own tribal rules and etiquette, which can be very strict and it truly does gets a lot😭 nevermind colloquial African etiquette to navigate as well. It's very challenging at times but it's also very fascinating to be able to navigate a nation of such diverse cultures. People tend to be quite forgiving because of that🙈
I have known most of these rules since I was a child. My Dad was very VERY British and made sure we knew all our manners, as he used to tell us we never knew if we would eat with the Queen so we HAD to know how to eat properly. My mother actually got to go to two state dinners with the Queen when she visited Nova Scotia Canada, I still have the invitations for those. Thank you for your video I think I will subscribe, I am very much a Royalist and love to learn how things are done in that circle of society. Please update us on the hats, they are works of art.
Thanks Julie, for the fun tips on how to eat & behave when you go to a royal event. Loved the black top hat - what fun to find all of those treasures from the past.
My family is American, however, my mother taught me proper etiquette. My sister and I were taught how to set the table for dinner, how to hold utensils, how to sit and walk properly. Although I don't always follow the rules I know them and thanks to my mother I would be comfortable dining with any of the royal family.
This is all standard etiquette in our very standard home from a very early age, taught by my very standard mum. It was considered good manners including, no elbows on the table, close your mouth when eating, keep your elbows in when using utensils, don't talk with your mouth full, place your cutlery down while chewing. Oh and we were all taught to curtsey at primary school In case we met any dignitaries! ❤🇦🇺
All the same, except for the curtesy. However, in Sweden, us cousins found an etiquette book from the fiftieth at my grandparents house and learnt how to eat a pear with forks. My grandparents also taught us how to serve at the table and we worked at several social functions that they held. We had a lot of fun with the book and tried to implement the rules at all times. It helped that my grandparents lived in a 200 year old house with all the old trapping still intact. There were servants bells to all the rooms and a servant’s stair to the upstairs.
My mom raised us with those table manners, and I raised my kids with them too. One difference was if we needed to leave the table, we asked “May I be excused?” I was also raised to not cross my legs. It was OK to cross ankles as you showed. Thank you for this excellent information.
It is interesting- because most of this is how I was taught to eat at a young age, and then at my boarding school. However we were taught to push the food onto the downward prongs of the fork, not balance on the back. As you said - these are more British (Commonwealth countries) table manners, than specific to Royalty.
@@annabelgrace1267 You point the fork to the plate in the left hand, and push the food onto the prongs holding the knife in the right hand. That’s the way I eat. However I think it is also acceptable manners to use the fork in the right hand, and scoop food like a spoon. Of course I will push food onto upturned prongs with a knife if I am eating at home, because it is easier that way. I also don’t think it matters as much as when I was young.
@@brontewcat Thanks. So basically, you balance the food on the back of the fork, rather than using the tip of the forks to stab the piece of steak and bring it to your mouth
@@annabelgrace1267 No. I said you use the knife to push the food onto the prongs of the fork. The prongs hold the food. You are not balancing the food on the back of the fork. Although this may happen if you have food on the prongs and there is other food above the food stuck on the prongs. Have you never watched British or European movies, and seen people eating like this?
@@brontewcat I have. In fact, I do, too, but her video and another where I saw prince Charles eating with the prongs upturned, just got me confused, like have I been doing things wrongly?
I was born in the USA but both sides of my family came from England. My mother & grandmother taught us manners, how to sit & curtsy. My grandmother had stacks of beautiful hat boxes with hats in them. I loved watching her put them on. My grandfather's hats were from England too.
I love these etiquette traditions. For some reason I have always eaten with fork in right hand and knife in left, whilst my family eat the correct way. I am ambidextrous, so maybe that partly explains. Your 1900 dress is beautiful ~ it looks like it's modelled on medieval royal court attire. I'm new to to your channel Julie, so am playing 'catch-up', and have not seen this stunning room before ~ the historic furniture and fabrics are amazing. I love the subtle colouration.
I think it is actually more intuitive to eat with the fork in the right hand, especially if you are right handed. I have always wondered why the 'correct' way is to eat with the left hand! In other cultures, particularly eastern, food is always brought to the mouth with the right hand (whether with utensils or hands).
Love how you communicate what you were used to and what you have learned to do. Different customs seem so rigid from the outside but they are there so that the insiders can relax. Loved the details about the fork and knife when one leaves the table.
Being American I of course don't have a family wedding tiara, but I made my own by wire wrapping a ton of Swarovski crystals. It was quite pretty and I loved the fact that it was completely unique to me
Thank you Julia! How exiting finding old family treasures. The Ladies would have been pleased to know their gorgeous hats would be admired by the world some day. That reminds me of the words: "I shall still be as long as someone speaks my name..."
It's so interesting watching this as an American 30-something person. When I was young (under 10) my mom decided she was going to teach my sisters and I to be mannered young ladies. I remember learning the basics of etiquette and I cannot express how important those skills have been for me in my career. Knowing HOW to carry myself around individuals who would be seen as higher rank does amazing for ones self confidence. Being able to walk into a room with confidence, grace, and strength is something I will forever be thankful for, even if at the time all I wanted to do was dig in the dirt for 'treasures' LOL
I was fortunate to have a British Governess raise me. We had fun as children learning how to properly hold our cutlery and to behave at table. Your video brought back some lovely memories of my Nanny Frankie-how i miss her! Love and blessings always-Kathleen😘
We're American but come from an aristocratic Irish family. We have a Tierra though! It's not very old it's crystal and pearl and it's beautiful! I'm sure it will be used for generations to come!
Rock ‘n rollers are our American royalty. I was in junior high when my friend Alexandra invited me to a house party in the 70s with the hottest band - Pablo Cruise. Picture us in big hair, silk mini skirts, velvet bodices, and cap sleeves. We were young and fabulous. We made our entrance literally down a winding staircase. My heel snapped right off and I rolled into the arms of the lead singer who dove to break my fall. If not for the age difference, we’d definitely be married now.
I did enjoy this video. My upbringing included all the manners you mentioned. Very interesting to see your take on things coming from another culture as an adult. Also start using the cutlery from the outside working. Thank you for sharing your life.
My mother and grandmother were from England.My grandmother taught me to eat with knife and fork in the English manner. And for placing the utensils when finished eating, she would say “4 and 20 I’ve had plenty.” Which is exactly the way you demonstrated. 20 minutes after 4 on a clock face. To this day and my children’s embarrassment, I still eat this way. I was born in New York and live here now.
I do t have to give my nationality when I say, “I just love you!” What you teach from your adventure is exciting! Keep having such fun and I send my best to you and your husband! 😄
Oh my days. My Nana's "classes" for us girls? This, we learned all of this. Even the posture walking with books on your head. Wisconsin, was born in 1968. I have used some, not all but some. Julie this was lovely
When I was a young girl I went to etiquette school. If I remember correctly, it was on a Saturday afternoon for a few hours. It was a two month class. Never really had an embarrassing situation that I can remember. My husband is from a former British colony and I am more strict about things than he is.
I had mine from my grandmother. She was Italian but had lived in France and then Austria-Hungary. I even learned how to kiss a ladies hand in the way of Austrian, French and English etiquette. Don't ask me the difference now, it was mainly about the way you took the hand and which part of it you air kissed.
No ... no queen. You’re it for historical retaking of the best of heritage now Julie. We love the culture and we’re taking it back ... you’re a significant part of the last of it. Thank you and appreciating your preserving and taking back the best of history for all of us!
Thank you for this! I am Canadian but by Great Grandfather was Shepard for King George the 6th (prior to enlisting), and my Great-Grandmother worked in the house (I’m not familiar which house that is). My Great-Grandmother would serve the role of Queen at meals and if you dared reach across the table she would stab your hand with her fork if she could reach you. You only messed up once! All members of her family were expected to be of their best manners, even children. While I still use everything taught to me as a child, the whole family thought she was a hard ass. 😂 Even the Queen is known to push a few morsels around on her plate to allow an evening to continue, or accommodate guests who are struggling to eat with proper manners and are slower in stride.
Other than the curtsey, this is the way my family and I eat all the time. Just one thing I'd like to clarify about using the fork, though. You start by pushing the tines of the fork into the edge of something firm, meat or potato for example. You hold it there while you use the knife to cut off the amount you're going to put in your mouth, which remains impaled on the fork. That then serves as the base on which to pile whatever else you want in that mouthful, so that it's stable as you convey it to your mouth. So it's not really such a balancing act, and it's not slow or inefficient because you're preparing the next mouthful while you're chewing the previous one.
Yeah the balancing thing is super weird. Also the scooping with tines up seems quite child-like. Is it really etiquette or just her family’s way. (I’m British btw). I’m wondering if she has picked this up incorrectly or someone is misleading her.
@@lornagall8318 mashing food on the back of a fork seems "child-like" to most Americans, so on that score we'll call it even. Why do you think the fork is curved to begin with. Incidentally, before the Victorians started apeing the French you also switched hands.
Your videos are very interesting. I think my table setting comment may have seemed harsh. It was my first video and I thought you were, like Tracy Ullman, performing in a skit. I love how she plays the Queen Consort or Dame Judi Dench. You and the Viscount were very funny together. You are kind of the George Burns and Gracie Allen of the aristocratic class. I can see him asking what would you like to talk about tonight. And you respond by talking about your uncle….
My parents were quite strict about table manners when I was younger. Its wasn't until I was older I realised not everybody was as bothered by the whole thing. Being the eldest I can't get enough of rules lol ... not that I always keep them ☺
Oh my grandmother took my sisters and I to a very fancy restaurant in Atlanta, GA for our etiquette lessons. Bless her heart, she tried so hard to make us into proper ladies. We never rebelled, we adored her and cherished those times. We were expected to always use these lessons of etiquette no matter where we were. Honestly, the older I got the more I used them, and tried to teach them to my kids (and their friends). The etiquette lessons are one of the things I will always treasure about my grandmother.
Thank you Julie, I’m so glad these wonderful traditions are being upheld. Also I am very excited for you to start visiting stately homes, castles and manor houses on this channel (I saw in one of your replies that this will start in 3 weeks)!
I didn’t dine with royalty or anything remotely like that, but when I was in London in October 2019 we went for tea at St. Ermin’s hotel. Lovely place, wonderful experience, I highly recommend going for tea. But apparently I did quite the faux pas, probably typically American. We were pretty much finished, just enjoying our last treats and tea, and I did not like the last sandwich, I think it was crab. So when the waitress came out, I simply asked her if she could remove it for me. My companions told me I should have seen the look on her face! So I guess you just leave food you won’t eat in front of you during tea! My bad! LOL!
I have a friend that does not like having her dirty plate in front of her when she is done eating. She finds it disgusting so always asks the waitress to remove it. I see nothing wrong in this. To each their own.
@@peggiescraftcafe7117 In a restaurant maybe but the Video is about a formal function. Imagine 250 guests wanting plates removed at different times during a single course but even worst, wanting to be served before the top table!
@@peggiescraftcafe7117 Very sorry, how on earth I missed that I don't know. I stand corrected. While most Hotel afternoon teas are a set time single serving, they are still not a formal Dinner. I wonder if the look was more of a "What, I have to do extra work, I have other things to do". Not quite the same but my late Wife could not abide cooked half tomatoes on a breakfast plate. { I know what your thinking and I agree... but I would go along.} Many is the time I would ask they be removed from the plate. (Despite having not ordered any!)
Julie....you’re a legend! Loved revisiting the section on table manners, which were instilled into me as a child, growing up in rural Australia. It’s a shame that such traditions have fallen by the wayside, for the most part, in this so-called modern world. I am interested to discover which era the gentleman’s top hat was from.....looks like late 1800’s’/ early 1900’s.
Thank you Viscountess. We Americans can always benefit from a good primer now & again. One never knows when an invitation may come… Please keep up the good word.
I am an army brat , as a small child I had to be in receiving lines weekly with my parents . White gloves , superb manners essential . I was also in Europe, were manners are quite important . I love these segments .Manners are always to show good breeding
you poor girl, I admire your endurance and strength to go through all these lifestyle changes, its a bit exhausting just watching you do all the different things one needs to know. Love your channel, great video
Thank you so much for this video and for the tutorial. I appreciate you sharing how to have proper table etiquette. I have told my students many times over the years that if they had proper table manners, they could sit and dine with the Queen. Thank you again.
Thank you for another great video. I wish more Americans would see this, ( I am an American) and take heed to table manners and etiquette, especially children. Some table manner I have seen are simply horrendous! Looking forward to your next video!
Loving your energy! What a pleasure it must be for the family to have you as a part of it. I started with your home in Italy and here I am in royalty. Lucky for the Royals for sure 🌸
I am American, but I love British etiquette. Manners is a rare skill that I seldom see where I live. In my next life, I hope I return as someone's Butler. I would love it. Thank you, Viscountess. :)
Proper etiquette was extremely important in our family as my father was an officer in the Dutch Army and I still use those table manners even though I have live in the U.S for more than sixty years.
I have really been enjoying your series. I just discovered it the other day (Jan 2022) (and subscribed) but have been bouncing between this and that ever since. I just recently learned about the "fork" differences (I am Canadian) and often think that, my, I had better never have a glass of wine with dinner, because I will be going hungry! My balance isn't that good! :D This is really an enjoyable (and educational) series! Just fantastic!
We were brought up with impeccable table manners. My grandmother came over to the US from Scotland. And the table manners trickled down to us kids. Proper table manners instilled in us for as long as I can remember. It was funny, our friends used to be a little nervous eating at our house. We could easily fit in Downton Abbey haha. Kinda funny, us the middle class New Yorkers.
When I visited my English rellies at the age of 18, I was teased unmercifully for scooping food onto my fork instead of balancing it on the top of the tines. Great to hear that sanity is prevailing!
Thank you for all your hard work and research producing these videos. I think you could probably do about 5 videos on your dress alone, with respect to textiles, style, age of the wearer, cost etc. You make everything fun and interesting. We devotees adore you and your style.
As an American, I "met" the Queen (was close enough to her that if I'd reached my arm out I'd have touched her) during the ONE week I have ever spent in England! We happened to take our family vacation there during the time when the memorial fountain for Diana, Princess of Wales was dedicated and the ENTIRE royal family (as it was in 2004) was present! And yet I've lived in the DC Metro area all my life and have ever once been that close to a president, with the exception of one who had passed since we were at the Capitol for Reagan when he died. We read about the royals dedicating that fountain to Diana and decided to check it out and after the speech, the Queen came and did a walkabout and she was just a few feet away. Since William & Harry were present, a few Americans brought posters that said things like "Marry me William!" and that kind of thing. TO THEIR MOTHER'S MEMORIAL DEDICATION! I was STUNNED! Who does that?!? It made me super embarrassed for sure. We tried to be as polite as possible and recognize that this was a difficult day for the "boys" so seeing those signs was really quite disturbing.
This is such a great channel, enjoy your style and energy, have seen your Mother in Law and husband so far, they are adorable. Good vibes coming from you all.
Julie loved this episode. Being from the USA also, my European cousins used to laugh when they saw how I ate. Said " you eat like a child"! Thank you for showing how to eat "European Style"!
Would be interesting to know if the Milliner's were still in business Julie, or are they like most businesses and have all gone now! Found it a little strange that everyone had to stop eating when the Queen did, like you say, if you were hungry you'd have to eat a little faster lol :0). As children, we were also taught to eat with our knife and folk the same, I think it was a practice many households had, rich or poor, what a shame much has been lost on Etiquette :0( Great video once again Julie, and may I share a little story with you here, my late grandparents were Mayor and Mayoress of Peterborough in 1972, during this period, they had to attend a Garden party at Buckingham Palace. My poor old grandmother was terrified of meeting the queen in case she fell over while curtsying lol Gran also told us about a dinner party they'd once been to, where certain members of the Royal family also attended and she was placed next to an elderly woman who was dressed in all her finery, this old lady had made a comment to my gran and she'd replied by saying that she didn't like a certain member of the Royal family (a younger member she was referring to) the elderly lady replied 'Erm, so you know my Nephew do you?' Gran said the floor could have split open and swallowed her whole lol, unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the elderly lady, she was related to the Queen though lol lol
Loved seeing the hats and you telling us some history. Are there any toys like dolls,your husbands old toys,etc? Would love to see all of those things,any old camera's,bedspreads,etc. Old bibles,what church did they attend,or do they attend? I know there is one next to the castle,but do they use it,I forget if you said.
Thank you for your delightful video. Our family has always held faultless manners. I often wondered how we came by such perfect high societal breeding, our ancestry being farmers and tin miners. I had notions of genetic grandeur. Then I found a servant to a noble house among those ancestors. Now I understand.
That hat is probably circa 1915-1930 silk turban. Really popular in the roaring 20’s to the 30’s. I’d love to see more of your vintage collection of garments.
@@Becky_Theroux_Gockel yes, especially when the Oriental interest was heightened by the trade routes opening. But, judging by what Julie said and it’s basic shape, I stand by my original comment. Made, of course - without any close up investigation, from across the pond😉
@@marthaross6301 Yes, it was hard to tell. My first thought was the 1820s. The begging of WWI is my break-off point in history so I don't know much about fashion after that. I lived through the 1950s and 60s so I don't have any interest in those years either :-) lol
As Canadians, we always keep our fork (often facing downward) in our left hand too... no switching - at least, from what I gather, being from Quebec and Ontario. As well as placing our cutlery down correctly onto the plate to signal whether we're done or not. My Russian/Belgian family taught me table etiquette very early on. In my 58 yrs, never heard of switching until You Tube, and I've been to the US many times throughout my life, even lived in D.C. for a bit, but never noticed
As a "mere commoner " growing up in an average NewZealand home in the 50s and 60s this cutlery and eating ettiquette was normal life for us .My brothers and I were never allowed to leave table unless we had placed knife and fork in correct position and said thankyou for the food .
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My late mum, God Bless her soul, went into service at the age of 14. There was NOTHING she didn’t know about ‘table manners’ and ‘etiquette’. She knew how to lay a table perfectly and she was an expert cook. I grew up with all this as a natural way of life. We didn’t have fine and fancy things but mum was a very good house keeper and a very loving mother. Still, to this very day, I’m fussy about my bed linens, household linens etc and it’s def from mum. I remember as a young woman I taught myself to crotchet, in particular I did Irish lace…. one Christmas I gifted to mum a table doily and 4 lengths of lace that were the size of a pillowcase opening so she cd stitch the lace on to whatever pillowcases she wanted. She cried tears and said she had never had something so ‘posh’. She had laundered many a fine lace pillowcase or garment but she never thought she would have something like that of her own. She told me hundreds of stories about her life ‘below stairs’, some good, some VERY funny but sadly some were horrendous. But all the stories are lodged in my mind with fondness.
How wonderful...I hope you write down the memories.
Beautiful memories and heartwarming, thank you for sharing them with us! My grandmother born 1900 and died 2004 was the same and years later as I became a grandmother myself, I was fortunate enough to still have my grandmother around and I interviewed her about her life, so I have it all written down and she was a really funny lady. One that often put her foot in it when she shouldn't and the we cried with laughter at many of her stories of times gone by! :0) x
Wow Great Minds think alike, I also knit & crochet, for bridal shower or a wedding gift, I will crochet some trim/lace and will sew it onto the pillow cases, and top sheet, I'll gift the sheet set with a matching homemade afghan.
You owe it to her to write a book and make a fortune! Good Luck!
They have rules. As a nurse, I cared for a woman who was a cousin to the Queen. Now I understand why, at the first formal dinner party she attended young Elizabeth (age 6) teased my patient ( age 13), who had just arrived to England for her education .
Etiquette has flown out the window. I'd love to see table manners taught and used again. Fantastic video
We used to have to ask for permission to leave the table at meal times, but then, how many even have a table these days to eat from!
I agree.
@@JenningsCraftsBoutique yes I always had to ask, " May I be excused?" Before I left the table too. Often times the answer was no. When my father was finished was when we were all able to leave of we wished, but rarely before.
@@mplight2941 Yes I remember those days well lol. Plus, we had to clear our plates and was always told that there were hungry children in the world who didn't even know what it was that we had on our plates... We were poor and bloody hungry often, so it wasn't that much for us either!
And saying Grace before eating. I do that to this day.
I’m a protocol officer so etiquette is my wheelhouse. I love seeing people do things the proper way.
That's an interesting, but fun - and sometimes stressful - job to get in to. You don't see that position often other than in the military, at an embassy, or in a sovereign's household.
I too was sort of a protocol officer for a military defense contractor. It was my responsibility to school executives in customs and regulations of foreign countries they would travel to. The most interesting was gift-giving and the proper way to present or wrap a gift even down to the color of wrapping paper and the pronunciation of the gift's name. Sometimes the word for a gift in English could sound offensive in another language. Best job I ever had. Then I went to work for Lawyers, ugg.
@@sentimentalwoman4540 very interesting! You caught my attention with the word, “gift.” When first learning German, that was one of the more amusing “false friends.” 😂
There’s more than one proper way..
We were taught table manners and how to sit like a lady….
I have always thought while watching Brits eating on back of their fork, having raked the food on with a knife looked like ‘eating like a pig’.
I’ll keep changing my fork to my right hand.
I am an American, but once found myself eating dinner with some rather posh folks in Wales. During the soup course, I realized that I would put my spoon into the bowl and scoop towards myself, and everyone else scooped away from themselves. My husband knew to scoop away as well, and I questioned him later about where he learned that particular rule. He said it was from watching Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton) eat dinner served by Alfred, and that he knew Alfred would've taught him correctly! :-) It still makes me laugh.
The reason you ‘scoop away’ is to prevent very hot spillage coming down your shirt😱.
That’s hilarious! 😂
I thought one scoops away to demonstrate you are not greedy (or hungry)!!!
I wouldn't worry too much about which way you scoop up your soup as no one would have noticed especially when there are more important things going on in the world such as people dying in Afghanistan or from lack of NHS healthcare just like 1 poor man who phoned in to a talk show to say that he's got 12 months to live as his Doctor wouldn't do face to face appointments due to the lockdowns so they missed his cancer and he would have been ok if they'd picked up on it sooner!!
I remember this saying from my childhood-“Like little ships set out to sea, I spoon my soup away from me.”
Hi, I’m a American married to an RAF Officer. Our first year of marriage, I had lunch with the Queen. Thank goodness my mother taught my sisters and me impeccable table manners and how to curtesy growing up. Lunch was a wonderful experience and I adore the Queen, she is a lovely lady. Lunch was formal and as you said, quite fast ending before I had finished but I didn’t mind stopping. Quite funny, really.
Americans never curtsey to royalty....
@@madlonglenn8743 Very true, but we do stop and acknowledge the royal person. Meghan DOES curtsy to HM!
@@fredrika27 if course...but not with a curtsey
@@madlonglenn8743 When in Rome..
@@madlonglenn8743 I'm an American and I would curtsey if I ever met any royalty.
Your wedding tiera was beautiful. I would love to hear about how you prepared for your wedding and what was all involved in planning a royal wedding.
Growing up, I ate many meals with my British grandmother so your knife and fork rules are second nature to me. Tea, of course, was served and consumed in a particular way. She did suggest that one should sit up straight, never allowing one's back to touch the back of the chair. I loved her dearly and still fondly recall everything about her. Thank you for your tutorial. So fun.
My dorm mother taught us that, when seated at the table, a mouse should fit between you and the table; and a cat between you and the back of the chair. The back of the chair is NOT for leaning on- in fancy settings, the footmen need something to grab when pulling out the chair for you! :-)
It actually makes sense to sit up straight- you can breathe better! - your lungs have their proper space. Also better for your spine.
I met the queen and her husband in an alley in my hometown of San Antonio, Texas. It's not like you think because the ally was paved like a street and it was behind the Convention Center Arena downtown where deliveries are made for events there. It's very clean, there's no trash back there and no graffiti. Me and a handful of people were there behind a a yellow caution tape that taped off a small area. She came out with her husband and went towards a street car/trolly that was going to ride along with a parade in her honor. When she came out she was very close to us, so I thought I should say something or else I would lose my chance. I said, hi your Majesties, welcome to San Antonio and we all are happy to have you. She said, oh thank you, thank you so much for coming. I said hello sir to her husband and he said hello and nodded. I thought she was pretty cool and they were so classy.
Hi fellow Texan, what a rare, unexpected pleasure it must have been to meet the Queen! I didn’t realize she visited our great state, do you remember what year it was?
I live in Plano but love San Antonio. The river walk, the great Tex-Mex and margaritas, and I’ve always loved the Alamo history and the legends who fought and died there. I bought a gorgeous hand carved jewelry box there celebrating my first anniversary there in the early 90’s, lots of fond memories of SA.
Crazy times at the border! Hope y’all don’t get overrun.
@@leslie6938
It in May 1991. It's nice to see another Texan in the comments.
Darling, alley is spelled like this with an e-y on the end. Ally means someone who is on your side of an issue. And you may want to brush up on your subjective case pronouns. In any case, I’m glad that you got to meet the Queen and Prince Philip, how exciting!
@@anglophils645
Oops! Sorry. It's just a typo.
@@anglophils645
As for the subjective case pronouns, would you help with that please.
Hello Julie: Thank you for this tutorial. I suggest that you add a side note about the napkin (wait until the host/hostess places theirs before you place yours), and where the cutlery is placed. Also, when asked to pass the salt, you always pass both salt and pepper; and pass condiments to the right.
When I was in High School in NYC, the nuns would drill us on table manners as part of our education. When I lived in London, my host and other guests would watch me at tea and at dinner clearly hoping to catch a gaffe. Once in a while I heard titters of derision. It is worse manners to make a guest feel awkward than it is to use a fork in the right hand.
Yes, imho that’s rude ppl shouldn’t ridicule others in person. Also imho, that’s just bad manners
I quite agree. Well said. 👏🏻👏🏻
My Mother placed me in etiquette school when I was young and I remember every single thing, but I've only been to a couple of formal dinner parties or gatherings. I still sit with my legs together with ankles crossed unless I am at my office desk. There are so many things from not so long ago that should be implemented again. Structure is good for the soul, in my opinion. I would love to have a formal dinner party sometime at my Victorian dining hall.
That sounds like so much fun! I too would love to see a resurgence of elements of etiquette that seemed to be fading away 🌼
I would love to hear how you and your husband met, courted and about your wedding!
Will definitely do a video on that soon!
That's a wonderful idea!💕
It's a Wonderful Video & Story. I did meet Someone, sometimes she was called Queen 👑 or Icon🏆. I call her "Kind Woman" . I tried my best not to disturb her. Years later there would be Friendship!!! Good Wishes From Ireland ☘. 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
@@AmericanViscountess Great idea! I very much enjoyed the etiquette tips, too!
@@edwardm.thornton6313 Very mysterious comment! Intriguing!
I like the way you made a successful transition to British Aristocracy! You are a credit to both countries!
My parents are diplomats and my dad is very particular with etiquette and manners. I followed suit and served in my country foreign ministry for 14 years. I love your vdo explaining these basic manners which i think it is still relevant if you need to attend official events. I hope people still teach these to younger generations
My grandma married a doctor when I was really young and she tried to get me into that society stuff. Dinner parties, pageants, etc...when I was really little we went to a dinner with the governor and he was discussing music. I stood on a chair in the middle of a banquet hall and belted out the song "Sweet Georgia Brown" using my sorbet spoon as a microphone. 🤦 my mom and grandma were mortified but the governor thought it was adorable. Me, the governor, and Alan Shepard (the astronaut) took a picture together at the dinner and made the front page of the paper. The dinner had something to do with a space shuttle exhibit at a museum in Florida. I think that was one of my first formal dinner parties. 😂😂
I can imagine this very cute moment which could have been a scene from a movie!! I love it and it made the Front pages! Well done 👍
If I had been "really little" and stood on a chair my mom's hand would have smacked my rear end before the spoon got to my mouth!
Bravo! 👍
You scoop away from yourself so you do not spill soup on yourself
I think we would be good friends!
Fun video. I would enjoy seeing a video about your historic dress collection.
I think she has one, showing her vintage pieces back to the early 1900s :)
@@beautifulwave1346 you are correct. There is one video on that. Enjoyable
@@beautifulwave1346 Next week's video I'll be wearing them!
When Sarah Ferguson married Andrew, she was gifted a tiara (now known as the York tiara) by the Queen.
Turning the fork over is just NOT DONE - it’s considered somewhat vulgar.
Funny. Mashing food on the back of a fork is considered vulgar in the US. Why do you think the fork is curved?
I have always learned that we should use the fork on the right, unless we need to use the knife, which should be always on the right side. After "loading" the fork, move it to the right side and eat. Taking the food into your mouth from the left means that you don't know how to handle your fork and knife.
Thank you! As an American my mother followed the "English way!" We had tea time and she always set a perfect table. We also learned to curtsy or bow! I'm happy I've found your channel! I'm now following you!!
May be yout family are british descendants!
I find this channel so interesting. I love Julie's sense of humor and pure sense of enjoyments sharing with us
Learned all this from childhood and my parents were very strict on table manners xx Having lived in the USA for 30 years I see both sides and eat both ways lol xx Well done and I hope you get to meet the Queen one day xx
"What the royals do and many others is they slide the food onto the back of the fork so the tines are always pointing down. So you would cut whatever it is and you would slide that food (...it's a balancing act, wright?...) onto the back of the fork ...carefully bring it up and eat it that way!"
Just out of curiosity I've tried this royal eating technique with the fork and, besides etiquette, it really helps concentrating on the food, on the texture and on the taste of the food. It also slow down the eating process for fast eating people like me. Finally: it helps enjoy the meal leaving you full/satiated
(Pardon my mistakes in English!) and unexpectedly more calm. That's the way one should feel during lunch breaks. I'll try more and more this "balancing act" technique.
Grazie mille!
Hai raggione - e come hai raggione 😊
This is basic standard etiquette, as drilled into me as a very young child if about 7 years of age,I'm now 75 years old, and I never think twice about these rules. They're ingrained into me, and I found the easiest way to remember which cutlery you were supposed to use at which time/course is to remember, from outside, to inside.
around the early 18th century, particularly in France, it became fashionable for diners to put the knife down after cutting, and swap the fork to the right hand-i.e., to cut-and-switch.
The French brought that over to the States and the rest is history 😁
I think is more polite doing the switch, not switching is considered eating as a truck driver 😅 I will practice the other way, but old habits die hard my lovely 🥰
Great video ❤️
Rubbish
This is quite interesting and even entertaining🙈 Thanks for sharing ❤️ As a black South African, we have a British, Dutch, and to a lesser extent French and some German colonial past and I dare say, all that you've stated is pretty much entrenched in our "high" society and quite normal fare. My father attended a multiracial British Anglican boys high school in the 60s, and also taught us social etiquette of old and it's quite amusing to me that all this is quite normal for us and that is just how we behave socially as normal actually (except curtsy, of course). Growing up wearing stockings everyday was a drag, so I've decidedly dropped those but they ate still required in most SA schools. Plus if you've been to a South African private boarding school, these social rules are also easily recognizable. The only complication with us is that we have MANY African royal houses as well, some with their own tribal rules and etiquette, which can be very strict and it truly does gets a lot😭 nevermind colloquial African etiquette to navigate as well. It's very challenging at times but it's also very fascinating to be able to navigate a nation of such diverse cultures. People tend to be quite forgiving because of that🙈
I have known most of these rules since I was a child. My Dad was very VERY British and made sure we knew all our manners, as he used to tell us we never knew if we would eat with the Queen so we HAD to know how to eat properly. My mother actually got to go to two state dinners with the Queen when she visited Nova Scotia Canada, I still have the invitations for those. Thank you for your video I think I will subscribe, I am very much a Royalist and love to learn how things are done in that circle of society. Please update us on the hats, they are works of art.
Thanks Julie, for the fun tips on how to eat & behave when you go to a royal event. Loved the black top hat - what fun to find all of those treasures from the past.
My family is American, however, my mother taught me proper etiquette. My sister and I were taught how to set the table for dinner, how to hold utensils, how to sit and walk properly. Although I don't always follow the rules I know them and thanks to my mother I would be comfortable dining with any of the royal family.
This is all standard etiquette in our very standard home from a very early age, taught by my very standard mum. It was considered good manners including, no elbows on the table, close your mouth when eating, keep your elbows in when using utensils, don't talk with your mouth full, place your cutlery down while chewing. Oh and we were all taught to curtsey at primary school In case we met any dignitaries! ❤🇦🇺
All the same, except for the curtesy. However, in Sweden, us cousins found an etiquette book from the fiftieth at my grandparents house and learnt how to eat a pear with forks. My grandparents also taught us how to serve at the table and we worked at several social functions that they held. We had a lot of fun with the book and tried to implement the rules at all times. It helped that my grandparents lived in a 200 year old house with all the old trapping still intact. There were servants bells to all the rooms and a servant’s stair to the upstairs.
There was a rhyme: "Mabel, Mabel, if ur able, keep ur elbows off the table" 😊
My mom raised us with those table manners, and I raised my kids with them too.
One difference was if we needed to leave the table, we asked “May I be excused?”
I was also raised to not cross my legs. It was OK to cross ankles as you showed.
Thank you for this excellent information.
My Grandmother, who was from Ireland, taught me that a lady never crosses her legs.
It is interesting- because most of this is how I was taught to eat at a young age, and then at my boarding school. However we were taught to push the food onto the downward prongs of the fork, not balance on the back.
As you said - these are more British (Commonwealth countries) table manners, than specific to Royalty.
Here, here. Pushing the food onto the upside down tines is the way to go in the UK.
@@annabelgrace1267 You point the fork to the plate in the left hand, and push the food onto the prongs holding the knife in the right hand. That’s the way I eat.
However I think it is also acceptable manners to use the fork in the right hand, and scoop food like a spoon.
Of course I will push food onto upturned prongs with a knife if I am eating at home, because it is easier that way. I also don’t think it matters as much as when I was young.
@@brontewcat Thanks. So basically, you balance the food on the back of the fork, rather than using the tip of the forks to stab the piece of steak and bring it to your mouth
@@annabelgrace1267 No. I said you use the knife to push the food onto the prongs of the fork. The prongs hold the food. You are not balancing the food on the back of the fork. Although this may happen if you have food on the prongs and there is other food above the food stuck on the prongs.
Have you never watched British or European movies, and seen people eating like this?
@@brontewcat I have. In fact, I do, too, but her video and another where I saw prince Charles eating with the prongs upturned, just got me confused, like have I been doing things wrongly?
I just stumbled across this video. It was fun and it’s nice to see a down to earth American woman laughing and enjoying the overly formal royal rules!
I feel as though I grew up with the royals as most of your manners I was also taught to do. Thanks again.
I was born in the USA but both sides of my family came from England. My mother & grandmother taught us manners, how to sit & curtsy. My grandmother had stacks of beautiful hat boxes with hats in them. I loved watching her put them on. My grandfather's hats were from England too.
Nice...and you are wearing your vintage dress too! Beautiful.
I love these etiquette traditions. For some reason I have always eaten with fork in right hand and knife in left, whilst my family eat the correct way. I am ambidextrous, so maybe that partly explains. Your 1900 dress is beautiful ~ it looks like it's modelled on medieval royal court attire. I'm new to to your channel Julie, so am playing 'catch-up', and have not seen this stunning room before ~ the historic furniture and fabrics are amazing. I love the subtle colouration.
I think it is actually more intuitive to eat with the fork in the right hand, especially if you are right handed. I have always wondered why the 'correct' way is to eat with the left hand! In other cultures, particularly eastern, food is always brought to the mouth with the right hand (whether with utensils or hands).
Love how you communicate what you were used to and what you have learned to do. Different customs seem so rigid from the outside but they are there so that the insiders can relax. Loved the details about the fork and knife when one leaves the table.
Yes, Julie, congrats on this video- very informative. 🙌 Please have another video on your vintage dress collection. I liked the first one. 👏
Coming next week!
Being American I of course don't have a family wedding tiara, but I made my own by wire wrapping a ton of Swarovski crystals. It was quite pretty and I loved the fact that it was completely unique to me
Thank you Julia! How exiting finding old family treasures. The Ladies would have been pleased to know their gorgeous hats would be admired by the world some day. That reminds me of the words: "I shall still be as long as someone speaks my name..."
It's so interesting watching this as an American 30-something person. When I was young (under 10) my mom decided she was going to teach my sisters and I to be mannered young ladies. I remember learning the basics of etiquette and I cannot express how important those skills have been for me in my career. Knowing HOW to carry myself around individuals who would be seen as higher rank does amazing for ones self confidence. Being able to walk into a room with confidence, grace, and strength is something I will forever be thankful for, even if at the time all I wanted to do was dig in the dirt for 'treasures' LOL
I was fortunate to have a British Governess raise me. We had fun as children learning how to properly hold our cutlery and to behave at table. Your video brought back some lovely memories of my Nanny Frankie-how i miss her! Love and blessings always-Kathleen😘
We're American but come from an aristocratic Irish family. We have a Tierra though! It's not very old it's crystal and pearl and it's beautiful! I'm sure it will be used for generations to come!
Start replacing the crystals with diamonds little by little, maybe every birthday or other holiday.
Tierra = tiara ?
Thank you, you make us proud as Americans keep it up.🤗🤗🤗
I enjoy watching your videos because I can see the passion and enjoyment that you put into making them
Glad you enjoy it!
Hi 👋 Allan, how are you doing?
Rock ‘n rollers are our American royalty. I was in junior high when my friend Alexandra invited me to a house party in the 70s with the hottest band - Pablo Cruise. Picture us in big hair, silk mini skirts, velvet bodices, and cap sleeves. We were young and fabulous. We made our entrance literally down a winding staircase. My heel snapped right off and I rolled into the arms of the lead singer who dove to break my fall. If not for the age difference, we’d definitely be married now.
LOVE THIS!!!
I think not
I enjoyed this very much. It inspires me to be more conscious of my etiquette. Thank you.
I just love you're videos! Honest, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable. Nothing better!
Wow, thank you!
I did enjoy this video. My upbringing included all the manners you mentioned. Very interesting to see your take on things coming from another culture as an adult. Also start using the cutlery from the outside working. Thank you for sharing your life.
My mother and grandmother were from England.My grandmother taught me to eat with knife and fork in the English manner. And for placing the utensils when finished eating, she would say “4 and 20 I’ve had plenty.” Which is exactly the way you demonstrated. 20 minutes after 4 on a clock face. To this day and my children’s embarrassment, I still eat this way. I was born in New York and live here now.
Is it only English manner 🤔 ? I think it is European manner. I live in Europe and those manners are familiar to me.
I do t have to give my nationality when I say, “I just love you!” What you teach from your adventure is exciting! Keep having such fun and I send my best to you and your husband! 😄
Oh my days. My Nana's "classes" for us girls? This, we learned all of this. Even the posture walking with books on your head. Wisconsin, was born in 1968. I have used some, not all but some. Julie this was lovely
When I was a young girl I went to etiquette school. If I remember correctly, it was on a Saturday afternoon for a few hours. It was a two month class. Never really had an embarrassing situation that I can remember. My husband is from a former British colony and I am more strict about things than he is.
I had mine from my grandmother.
She was Italian but had lived in France and then Austria-Hungary.
I even learned how to kiss a ladies hand in the way of Austrian, French and English etiquette.
Don't ask me the difference now, it was mainly about the way you took the hand and which part of it you air kissed.
No ... no queen. You’re it for historical retaking of the best of heritage now Julie. We love the culture and we’re taking it back ... you’re a significant part of the last of it. Thank you and appreciating your preserving and taking back the best of history for all of us!
Thank you for this! I am Canadian but by Great Grandfather was Shepard for King George the 6th (prior to enlisting), and my Great-Grandmother worked in the house (I’m not familiar which house that is). My Great-Grandmother would serve the role of Queen at meals and if you dared reach across the table she would stab your hand with her fork if she could reach you. You only messed up once! All members of her family were expected to be of their best manners, even children. While I still use everything taught to me as a child, the whole family thought she was a hard ass. 😂 Even the Queen is known to push a few morsels around on her plate to allow an evening to continue, or accommodate guests who are struggling to eat with proper manners and are slower in stride.
This will remain an invaluable resource hundreds of years from now!
Other than the curtsey, this is the way my family and I eat all the time. Just one thing I'd like to clarify about using the fork, though. You start by pushing the tines of the fork into the edge of something firm, meat or potato for example. You hold it there while you use the knife to cut off the amount you're going to put in your mouth, which remains impaled on the fork. That then serves as the base on which to pile whatever else you want in that mouthful, so that it's stable as you convey it to your mouth. So it's not really such a balancing act, and it's not slow or inefficient because you're preparing the next mouthful while you're chewing the previous one.
This is how we all eat
Yeah the balancing thing is super weird. Also the scooping with tines up seems quite child-like. Is it really etiquette or just her family’s way. (I’m British btw). I’m wondering if she has picked this up incorrectly or someone is misleading her.
@@lornagall8318 mashing food on the back of a fork seems "child-like" to most Americans, so on that score we'll call it even. Why do you think the fork is curved to begin with. Incidentally, before the Victorians started apeing the French you also switched hands.
Now this video was great, fun and informative. Much better than the table setting video.
Your videos are very interesting. I think my table setting comment may have seemed harsh. It was my first video and I thought you were, like Tracy Ullman, performing in a skit. I love how she plays the Queen Consort or Dame Judi Dench. You and the Viscount were very funny together. You are kind of the George Burns and Gracie Allen of the aristocratic class. I can see him asking what would you like to talk about tonight. And you respond by talking about your uncle….
I hope Her Majesty visits you at Mapperton for tea one day because I think she would so enjoy meeting you,all your family.
My parents were quite strict about table manners when I was younger. Its wasn't until I was older I realised not everybody was as bothered by the whole thing. Being the eldest I can't get enough of rules lol ... not that I always keep them ☺
Oh my grandmother took my sisters and I to a very fancy restaurant in Atlanta, GA for our etiquette lessons. Bless her heart, she tried so hard to make us into proper ladies. We never rebelled, we adored her and cherished those times. We were expected to always use these lessons of etiquette no matter where we were. Honestly, the older I got the more I used them, and tried to teach them to my kids (and their friends). The etiquette lessons are one of the things I will always treasure about my grandmother.
Thank you Julie, I’m so glad these wonderful traditions are being upheld. Also I am very excited for you to start visiting stately homes, castles and manor houses on this channel (I saw in one of your replies that this will start in 3 weeks)!
What a wonderful channel to find. It's quite nice to see one of our own give us a glimpse of the customs of the other side.
I didn’t dine with royalty or anything remotely like that, but when I was in London in October 2019 we went for tea at St. Ermin’s hotel. Lovely place, wonderful experience, I highly recommend going for tea. But apparently I did quite the faux pas, probably typically American. We were pretty much finished, just enjoying our last treats and tea, and I did not like the last sandwich, I think it was crab. So when the waitress came out, I simply asked her if she could remove it for me. My companions told me I should have seen the look on her face! So I guess you just leave food you won’t eat in front of you during tea! My bad! LOL!
Live and learn!
I have a friend that does not like having her dirty plate in front of her when she is done eating. She finds it disgusting so always asks the waitress to remove it. I see nothing wrong in this. To each their own.
@@peggiescraftcafe7117 In a restaurant maybe but the Video is about a formal function. Imagine 250 guests wanting plates removed at different times during a single course but even worst, wanting to be served before the top table!
@@Hammocks_Rule The commenter WAS talking about an incident in a restaurant setting. That's what I was referring to.
@@peggiescraftcafe7117 Very sorry, how on earth I missed that I don't know. I stand corrected. While most Hotel afternoon teas are a set time single serving, they are still not a formal Dinner. I wonder if the look was more of a "What, I have to do extra work, I have other things to do". Not quite the same but my late Wife could not abide cooked half tomatoes on a breakfast plate. { I know what your thinking and I agree... but I would go along.} Many is the time I would ask they be removed from the plate. (Despite having not ordered any!)
Thank you for taking the time to shoot this video, very informative and fun!
Julie....you’re a legend! Loved revisiting the section on table manners, which were instilled into me as a child, growing up in rural Australia. It’s a shame that such traditions have fallen by the wayside, for the most part, in this so-called modern world. I am interested to discover which era the gentleman’s top hat was from.....looks like late 1800’s’/ early 1900’s.
Thank you Viscountess. We Americans can always benefit from a good primer now & again. One never knows when an invitation may come…
Please keep up the good word.
I am an army brat , as a small child I had to be in receiving lines weekly with my parents . White gloves , superb manners essential . I was also in Europe, were manners are quite important . I love these segments .Manners are always to show good breeding
you poor girl, I admire your endurance and strength to go through all these lifestyle changes, its a bit exhausting just watching you do all the different things one needs to know. Love your channel, great video
This is so fascinating! There are so many things to remember. I cannot wait to visit England one day. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for this video and for the tutorial. I appreciate you sharing how to have proper table etiquette. I have told my students many times over the years that if they had proper table manners, they could sit and dine with the Queen. Thank you again.
Thank you for another great video. I wish more Americans would see this, ( I am an American) and take heed to table manners and etiquette, especially children. Some table manner I have seen are simply horrendous! Looking forward to your next video!
Thanks for watching!
I love you on the Diana documentary! Glad I found your channel.
Thank you for watching!!!
Loving your energy! What a pleasure it must be for the family to have you as a part of it. I started with your home in Italy and here I am in royalty. Lucky for the Royals for sure 🌸
Thank you so much!
I am American, but I love British etiquette. Manners is a rare skill that I seldom see where I live. In my next life, I hope I return as someone's Butler. I would love it. Thank you, Viscountess. :)
I love all these etiquette tips! I wish some people I see would shape up!!
Proper etiquette was extremely important in our family as my father was an officer in the Dutch Army and I still use those table manners even though I have live in the U.S for more than sixty years.
Love this. You have worked so diligently to learn about the English traditions and society. You are a blessing to your family.
Hi 👋 Lindsey, how are you doing?
I love that you have embraced British aristocracy. Your a wonderful lady to listen to.
No, I won't say it, unlike
I have really been enjoying your series. I just discovered it the other day (Jan 2022) (and subscribed) but have been bouncing between this and that ever since. I just recently learned about the "fork" differences (I am Canadian) and often think that, my, I had better never have a glass of wine with dinner, because I will be going hungry! My balance isn't that good! :D
This is really an enjoyable (and educational) series! Just fantastic!
Thank you and welcome!
YES, yes yes.... would love to see vintage dress collection
We were brought up with impeccable table manners. My grandmother came over to the US from Scotland. And the table manners trickled down to us kids. Proper table manners instilled in us for as long as I can remember. It was funny, our friends used to be a little nervous eating at our house. We could easily fit in Downton Abbey haha. Kinda funny, us the middle class New Yorkers.
Hi 👋 Lori, how are you doing ?
Thank you for etiquette lessons.. in England
When I visited my English rellies at the age of 18, I was teased unmercifully for scooping food onto my fork instead of balancing it on the top of the tines. Great to hear that sanity is prevailing!
Your dress is my favorite one EVER! Beautiful in every way!
I'd love to see a collection of gowns, hats, shoes, etc! I just found your channel this week, and I consider it a holiday gift!
Hi 👋 Sandra, how are you doing?
Yes...please show us the finery
Thank you for all your hard work and research producing these videos. I think you could probably do about 5 videos on your dress alone, with respect to textiles, style, age of the wearer, cost etc. You make everything fun and interesting. We devotees adore you and your style.
As an American, I "met" the Queen (was close enough to her that if I'd reached my arm out I'd have touched her) during the ONE week I have ever spent in England! We happened to take our family vacation there during the time when the memorial fountain for Diana, Princess of Wales was dedicated and the ENTIRE royal family (as it was in 2004) was present! And yet I've lived in the DC Metro area all my life and have ever once been that close to a president, with the exception of one who had passed since we were at the Capitol for Reagan when he died. We read about the royals dedicating that fountain to Diana and decided to check it out and after the speech, the Queen came and did a walkabout and she was just a few feet away.
Since William & Harry were present, a few Americans brought posters that said things like "Marry me William!" and that kind of thing. TO THEIR MOTHER'S MEMORIAL DEDICATION! I was STUNNED! Who does that?!? It made me super embarrassed for sure. We tried to be as polite as possible and recognize that this was a difficult day for the "boys" so seeing those signs was really quite disturbing.
I grew up with all of these tips. Nice to hear all of the advice and tips
That's great!
yes, id love to see your vintage clothes collection...
Coming soon!
How interesting! I don't believe I will ever have tea with the Queen but I enjoyed your video very much!
This is such a great channel, enjoy your style and energy, have seen your Mother in Law and husband so far, they are adorable. Good vibes coming from you all.
Julie loved this episode. Being from the USA also, my European cousins used to laugh when they saw how I ate. Said " you eat like a child"! Thank you for showing how to eat "European Style"!
Would be interesting to know if the Milliner's were still in business Julie, or are they like most businesses and have all gone now! Found it a little strange that everyone had to stop eating when the Queen did, like you say, if you were hungry you'd have to eat a little faster lol :0). As children, we were also taught to eat with our knife and folk the same, I think it was a practice many households had, rich or poor, what a shame much has been lost on Etiquette :0(
Great video once again Julie, and may I share a little story with you here, my late grandparents were Mayor and Mayoress of Peterborough in 1972, during this period, they had to attend a Garden party at Buckingham Palace. My poor old grandmother was terrified of meeting the queen in case she fell over while curtsying lol
Gran also told us about a dinner party they'd once been to, where certain members of the Royal family also attended and she was placed next to an elderly woman who was dressed in all her finery, this old lady had made a comment to my gran and she'd replied by saying that she didn't like a certain member of the Royal family (a younger member she was referring to) the elderly lady replied 'Erm, so you know my Nephew do you?' Gran said the floor could have split open and swallowed her whole lol, unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the elderly lady, she was related to the Queen though lol lol
Nice to see you out of the craft room Fi...
J
Your wedding photo is beautiful. What a stunning tiera you wore.
Loved seeing the hats and you telling us some history. Are there any toys like dolls,your husbands old toys,etc? Would love to see all of those things,any old camera's,bedspreads,etc. Old bibles,what church did they attend,or do they attend? I know there is one next to the castle,but do they use it,I forget if you said.
Hi and yes we still use the church next door. :-)
Thank you for your delightful video. Our family has always held faultless manners. I often wondered how we came by such perfect high societal breeding, our ancestry being farmers and tin miners. I had notions of genetic grandeur. Then I found a servant to a noble house among those ancestors. Now I understand.
That hat is probably circa 1915-1930 silk turban. Really popular in the roaring 20’s to the 30’s. I’d love to see more of your vintage collection of garments.
Turbans were also popular in the late 1790s to early 1800s too.
@@Becky_Theroux_Gockel yes, especially when the Oriental interest was heightened by the trade routes opening. But, judging by what Julie said and it’s basic shape, I stand by my original comment. Made, of course - without any close up investigation, from across the pond😉
@@marthaross6301 Yes, it was hard to tell. My first thought was the 1820s. The begging of WWI is my break-off point in history so I don't know much about fashion after that. I lived through the 1950s and 60s so I don't have any interest in those years either :-) lol
I enjoy your enthusiasm for history.
Your wedding picture is really lovely..thanks for sharing that💕
Thank you so much 😊
@@AmericanViscountess ❤
As Canadians, we always keep our fork (often facing downward) in our left hand too... no switching - at least, from what I gather, being from Quebec and Ontario. As well as placing our cutlery down correctly onto the plate to signal whether we're done or not. My Russian/Belgian family taught me table etiquette very early on. In my 58 yrs, never heard of switching until You Tube, and I've been to the US many times throughout my life, even lived in D.C. for a bit, but never noticed
As a "mere commoner " growing up in an average NewZealand home in the 50s and 60s this cutlery and eating ettiquette was normal life for us .My brothers and I were never allowed to leave table unless we had placed knife and fork in correct position and said thankyou for the food .
My mom always taught us these things. The fork and eating on the back was new though. I found this interesting and a good reminder .