The Royal You Tube Channel Features Hospitality Reception at Buckingham Palace
Chris · June 02, 2008
Last month, Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace for British hospitality professionals who made a significant contribution to the British hospitality industry.
Attendees at the reception included renowned celebrity chefs Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Gordon Ramsay (who seemed rather pleased with himself that he was meeting the Queen for the second time).
Unfortunately the You Tube video embed (yes, from the “Royal You Tube Channel") is disabled so I can’t feature the the video here, but you can check out the short piece by clicking here. And if you would like more info about events with the British Monarchy, of course you can check out their official website!
The hospitality reception must have been quite a career highlight for the attending British hospitality professionals who, perhaps, needed to brush up of their etiquette to meet the Queen in person.
A few years ago in Vancouver, Canada, I was the Director of Operations at the Delta Suites hotel. We had the occasion to host Canada’s representative to the Monarchy—our Governor General, for a breakfast function. At the time, Canada’s Governor General was Adrienne Clarkson.
My hotel G.M. was absent on business that day, so I was delegated to represent the hotel for the Governor General’s arrival. Like most Canadians, I wasn’t too savvy with protocol for the arrival of a national dignitary, but I had a requisite meeting with a member of Canada’s protocol office for a little ‘training’. I discovered that I should greet the Governor General as “Your Excellency”.
I admit that I was a little nervous upon the Governor General’s arrival (with her entourage), but all that went away quickly when she breezed past my outstretched hand and verbal niceties and bolted for the elevator. I ran after her in time to jump into the elevator, where I dutifully pushed the elevator button like a good citizen.
When the Queen decides to honour hospitality bloggers at her next reception, I’ll hit the ground running with a quick change from Your Excellency to Your Majesty!
