Serving Suggestions

For those of you struggling with the etiquette as you invite you family for Christmas lunch, here is the correct order in which the staff should attend to them:-

TABLE OF PRECEDENCE

Among Gentlemen, who ought to be served according to their respective ranks.

(The footman should study the following tables of riority of rank among persons of distinction, a knowledge of which will enable him to evince peculiar tact in his situation, and save his master or mistress much trouble in directing him when waiting at table.)

1. Queen's Sons
2. Queen's Brothers
3. Queen's Uncles
4. Queen's Grandsons
5. Queen's Nephews
6. Archbishop of Canterbury
7. Lord High Chancellor
8. Archbishop of York
9. Lord Treasurer
10. Lord President of the Privy Council
11. Lord Privy Seal
12. Lord High Constable
13. Lord Great Chamberlain of England
14. Earl Marshal
15. Lord High Admiral
16. Lord Steward of the Household
17. Dukes according to their Patents
18. Marquesses
19. Dukes' eldest sons
20. Earls
21. Marquesses' eldest sons
22. Dukes' younger suns
23. Viscounts
24. Earls' eldest sons
25. Marquesses eldest sons
26. Bishop of London
27. Bishop of Durham
28. Bishop of Winchester
29. Bishops according to their seniority of consecration
30. Barons
31. Speaker of the House of Commons
32. Viscounts' eldest sons
33. Earls' younger sous
34. Barons eldest sons
35. Knights of the Garter
36. Privy Councillors
37. Chancellor of the Exchequer
38. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
39. Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench
10. The Master of the Rolls
41. The Vice Chancellor
42. The Lord Chief Justice of the Common Fleas
43. Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer
44. Judges and Barons of the Exchequer according to seniority
45. Knights Bannerets royal
46. Viscounts' younger sons
47. Barons' younger sons
48. Baronets
49. Knights Bannerets
50. Knights of the Bath Grand Crosses
51. Knights Commanders of the Bath
52. Knights Bachelors
53. Eldest sons of the eldest sons of peers
54. Baronets' eldest sons
55. Knights of the Garters' eldest sons
56. Bannerets' eldest sons
57. Knights of the Baths' eldest sons
58. Knights' eldest sons
59. Baronets' younger sons
60. Sergeants at law
61. Doctors, Deans, and Chancellors
62. Masters in Chancery
63. Companions of the Both
64. Esquires of the Queen's body
65. Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber
66. Esquires of the Knights of the Bath
67. Esquires by creation
68. Esquires by office or commission
69. Younger sons of the Knights of the Garter
70. Younger sons of Bannerets
71. Younger sons of Knights of the Bath
72. Younger sons of Knights Bachelors
73. Gentlemen entitled to bear arms
74. Clergymen not dignitaries
75. Barristers at Law
76. Officers of the Navy
77. Oficers of the Army
78. Citizens
79. Burgesses
80. Married men and widowers before single men of the same rank

Precedency among Ladies.

1. Daughters of the Queen
2. Wives of the Queen's sous
3. Wives of the Queen's brothers
4. Wives of the Queen's uncles
5. Wives of the eldest sons of dukes of the blood royal
6. Wives of the Queen's nephews
7. Duchesses
8. Marchionesses
9. Wives of the eldest sons of dukes
10. Daughters of dukes
11. Countesses
12. Wives of the eldest sons of marquesses
13. Daughters of marquesses
14. Wives of the younger sons of dukes
15. Viscountesses
16. Wives of the eldest sous of earls
17. Daughters of earls
18. Wives of the younger sons of marquesses
19. Wives of archbishops
20. Wives of bishops
21. Baronesses
22. Wives of the eldest sons of viscounts
23. Daughters of viscounts
24. Wives of the younger sons of earls
25. Wives of the sons of barons
26. Maids of honour
27. Wives of the younger sons of viscounts
28. Wives of the younger sons of barons
29. Wives of baronets
30. Wives of the knights of the garter
31. Wives of bannerets
32. Wives of knights grand crosses of the bath
33. Wives of knights commanders of the bath
34. Wives of knights bachelors
35. Wives of the eldest sons of the younger son, of peers
36. Wives of the eldest sons of baronets
37. Daughters of baronets
38. Wives of the eldest sons of knights of the garter
39. Wives of the eldest sons of tannerets
40. Daughters ei bannerets
41. Wives of the eldest sons of knights of the bath
42. Daughters of knights of the bath
43. Wives of the eldest sons of knights bachelors
44. Daughters of knights bachelors
45. Wives of the younger sons of baronets
46. Daughters of knights
47. Wives of the companions of the order of the bath
48. Wives of the esquires of the Queen's body
49. Wives of the esquires of the knights of the bath
50. Wives of esquires by creation
51. Wives of esquires by office
52. Wives of younger sons of knights of the garter
53. Wives of the younger sons of bannerets
54. Wives of younger sons of knights of the bath
55. Wives of the younger sons of knights bachelors
56. Wives of gentlemen entitled to bear arms
57. Daughters of esquires entitled to bear arms
58. Daughters of gentlemen entitled to bear arms
59. Wives of clergymen
60. Wives of barristers at law
61. Wives of officers in the navy
62. Wives of officers in the army
63. Wives of citizens
64. Wives of burgesses
65. Widows
66. Daughters of citizens
67. Daughters of burgesses

In addition to the above Regulations, observe

1. That preference is to be given to persons of superior age of the same rank.
2. That ladies of all ranks are to be served before their husbands.
3. That, among ladies, wives rank first, widows next, and unmarried ladies last.
4. That strangers are, in all cases, to be served first, and the young ladies of your own family last.
Note, also, that at public meetings in the country, preference is usually given to the lady of the greatest land-holder. 

The Footman, His Duties and How to Perform Them, 1855