Etiquette Guides - Royal Research

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Photo Credit: Lawrence Jackson,  Official White House Photo

Proper royal etiquette varies greatly across the different royal families, generations, type of event, etc. In some ways, the Royals are stuck in the past with their centuries-old royal traditions. But, they are also very modern, as they try to stay relevant, with each generation doing things differently. 

While etiquette often seems like a very strict thing, it can actually be quiet fluid. None of these resources are going to be perfect, in fact, some will contradict each other. Some may be too formal and stuffy, others old and archaic, or too everyday and simple. 

There is no one good, authoritative resource on proper Royal etiquette. My advice, look at a wide variety of etiquette guides, from both now and the past. Pick and choose your rules (and with-in your story, vary how strict and proper people are).  

Resources

• Amy Vanderbilt's Complete Book of Etiquette (or Amy Vanderbilt's Etiquette) - This is my go-to etiquette book. It was originally published in 1952 and has had a number of editions showing the progress and change of etiquette in the American upper-class over the decades. I have an edition from each of the authors (1972, 1978, & 1992).
• 1952-1972 editions - written by Amy Vanderbilt until her death. 
• 1978 edition - revised & expanded by Letitia Baldrige (former White House social secretary)
• 1992 (50th Anniversary) edition - revised & updated by Nancy Tuckerman (former White House social secretary) and Nancy Dunnan (Business women)

Photo of Emily Post from 1912

• Emily Post Institute (Books, Podcasts, Courses) - Emily Post is a famous etiquette writer & novelist from the early/mid-1900s. Since her death, family members have continued to promote etiquette through the Emily Post Institute. 
• Etiquette (with a number of subtitles over the various editions) is Emily Post's 1st and most famous book on etiquette. Later editions, were edited and updated by her descendants. 
• 1st edition (1922) by Emily Post 
• 19th edition (2017) by Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning (Emily's great-great grandchildren)
• Other books by Emily Post
• Current Emily Post Institute books (Topics include: weddings, business, children, etc.)
• Awesome Etiquette podcasts - by Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning (Emily's great-great grandchildren)
• Debrett's (Website, Books, Courses) - This is a British professional coaching company, publisher, and authority on etiquette. I find at times they can be a bit more formal than the royals themselves. But they are a good resource because they are British and specifically cover some Royal Things. 
• Books
• William Hanson (Articles, Podcast, Courses) - Hanson is a British Etiquette excerpt. I disagree with him from time to time. But, he is a good resource on very modern, contemporary etiquette. And as a Brit, he does comment on the Royals from time to time. 

• Articles for the UK's Daily Mail

• Project Gutenberg - This is a free, online collection of books, which are in the public domain. Each book in the collection has been digitized by a volunteer and is free to view, print, distribute, etc. Since these books are all in the public domain, most of the books are rather old (pre-1930s). Here is a selection of the collection's books on etiquette.
• George Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior by George Washington (Circa 1740s/50s. Published in 1888 after Washington's death)
• The Gentleman and Lady's Book of Politeness and Propriety of Deportment by Elisabeth Celnart (1833)
• This is a translation from Celnart's original French text (6th edition)
• The Ladies’ Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness by Florence Hartley (1860)
• Routledge's Manual of Etiquette by George Routledge (1860)



From American Etiquette and Rules of Politeness







• Other Books on Etiquette
• Smithsonian Libraries - The Smithsonian Libraries' 20 locations comprise a physical collection of over 1.5 million books and manuscripts, as well as other types of media. A large part of that collection had been digitized and is free to view online. Since these books are all in the public domain, most of the books are rather old (pre-1930s). Here is a selection of the collection's books on etiquette.
• American Etiquette and Rules of Politeness by Walter Houghton (1883)
• Other Books on Etiquette

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