[MR] A question of Protocol regarding toasts

[Barbara Reed]

What a great topic!

Things vary from Kingdom to Kingdom, so your mileage may vary!

Here's how things are generally done in Meridies:

Usually, the toasting to the King and Queen is done by the Oldest Knight in
attendance - the Heirs are toasted by the Youngest Knight.  The toasting of
the Hosting Baronage is done by any other peer....and usually a peer will
toast the feast-crat as well.  There normally isn't any 'planning' of who
will do the toasts - the knights will look around and discuss amongst
themselves to determine who is senior and junior....and it just happens from
there.

As for High Table.  It's assumed the Hosting B&B will sit there.  The King &
Queen choose the remaining guests.  Usually it's someone like someone who
was elevated to Peerage that day, the winner of the main tourney, the winner
of the A&S competition, etc.  The hall steward usually determines the number
of settings at High Table, and the King & Queen fill  those seats.
Sometimes, Their Majesties will ask if the B&B would like to invite
anyone....but that should never be assumed.

Also, actual seating positions at High Table is VERY important, too.  There
is historic precedence for who sits where.  The King should sit center, with
the Queen on the Right, then the next highest rank should sit to the King's
left (Prince) and the next highest should sit to the right of the Queen
(Princess)...however, modern etiquette usually overrides this and we seat
couples together, in which case the Prince & Princess should sit to the left
of the King, unless the Queen is not in attendance, then the Heirs would sit
to the Right of the King.  The next highest ranking (hosting landed B&B)
would go to the other side....and so forth.  Here's an example:

This is the ideal arrangement:
*Left End*
7-Peer
5-Hosting Baron
3-Prince
1-King
2-Queen
4-Princess
6-Hosting Baroness
8-Award of Arms
*Right End*

This is more accepted arrangement:
*Left End*
7-Peer
5-Princess
3-Prince
1-King
2-Queen
4-Hosting Baron
6-Hosting Baroness
8-Award of Arms
*Right End*

Hopefully you get the idea!  Just remember the seat of honor is on the
right...or, the Queen is always "right" (we all know She is!)

It's always safe to go through Their Majesties' Chancellor (or Head
Retainer) to find out Their desires.  The event staff usually has a royal
liaison, and that person communicates with the Lead Retainer to work out the
details.

Again, this is just custom here, things may be very different elsewhere....

Hope that helps!

In service to Crown and Kingdom,
Baroness Bianca the Inquisitive
Chancellor to Their Majesties Meridies




-- 
Letalior Specierum! - (You wish you hit like a girl!)


"Having heard all this you may turn away, but you can never say again you
did not know." William Wilberforce