Royal Meeting Requires Royal Etiquette

On Tuesday, February 12, 2008, Phoenix, Arizona will host the visit of The Duke of York. In his role as the United Kingdom’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, His Royal Highness hopes to strengthen ties between Arizona and the United Kingdom.

If you are one of the lucky one’s to meet The Duke of York or attend a reception in his honor at the Arizona Biltmore, below are a few etiquette tips to keep you in royal company.

1. When introduced to The Duke of York, the correct way to address him is ‘Your Royal Highness’ thereafter ‘Sir’ during conversation.
2. Don’t introduce The Duke of York as ‘Prince Andrew’. In 1986 Prince Andrew received the title The Duke of York.
3. Wait for The Duke of York to offer his hand for a handshake before extending yours. Traditionally in Great Britain, a man nods his head and a woman does a small curtsy.
4. His Royal Highness will dine Continental style. What this means is, he will hold the fork in his left hand and the knife in his right hand throughout the meal. The fork tines will always be down even when eating mashed potatoes. In American style, the fork is transferred to our right hand (if we are right-handed) after cutting the food with the knife. It is often perplexing to Europeans on the American’s “zig-zag” style of eating.
5. Allow His Royal Highness to initiate the conversation during the reception and dinner. Once started, a few good conversation topics are golf, his concern for young people, and the arts. The Duke of York has his own golf Tournament for Junior Champions to encourage youth to start playing golf. He is the chairman of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children campaign. His Royal Highness is the Patron of the English National Ballet since 2001 and in 2003 became the Patron of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.