It’s 1865 and Lord and Lady Dudley have invited you to a grand party at Witley Court, but you can be the perfect guest? Take our quiz to find out…
1. You’re met by the butler, who looks very serious! Do you say…
A) ‘Cheer up, old boy!’
B) ‘Could you take my bags?’
C) ‘Erm, who are you, then?’
2. You’re shown to your bedroom by a housemaid. Do you…
A) Say, ‘Thank you. You may unpack my case and put out my evening clothes.’
B) Bounce up and down on the bed.
C) Ask her how much she’s paid.
3. It’s time to meet your hosts in the drawing room. Do you…
A) Sneak in behind the maid and hope no one notices you.
B) Walk in 10 minutes late and say, ‘Yo, Dudleys! What’s up?’
C) Walk in and say, ‘How do you do? What a beautiful room this is!’
4. It’s teatime but you’re sitting next to a really boring guest. Do you…
A) Smile politely and pretend to be interested in their stories.
B) Yawn and ask them to pass the cake.
C) Wave at Lady Dudley and ask, ‘Do they have an off switch?’
5. Lord Dudley takes the guests on a carriage drive around the grounds. Do you…
A) Ask the carriage to stop as you’re feeling travel-sick.
B) Overtake the carriage on your skateboard.
C) Agree enthusiastically and compliment him on everything.
6. Dinner is served by footmen in formal uniform. Do you…
A) Sit down first and ask for a burger and fries with ketchup.
B) Sit down after Lord and Lady Dudley and wait to be served.
C) Turn to the person next to you and say, ‘I’m starving!’
7. In the drawing room after dinner do you…
A) Take a selfie with Lady Dudley.
B) Play Lord Dudley at cards.
C) Get your phone out and watch TikTok videos.
Results: how did you do?
1-3 correct: Oh dear! You’re a disgrace to your family name!
4-5 correct: Whoops! Your etiquette needs serious work!
6-7 correct: Congratulations! You are the toast of the table!
Have you got what it takes to organise the perfect Victorian style dinner party?
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By invitation
Write a special invitation to every member of your family, requesting the pleasure of their company for dinner this evening. You could even pop them into envelopes and post them through the letterbox.
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Find your place
Now create elegant place cards for each diner: write their names on a small card by their plate indicating where they should sit. Remember, the host should always sit at the end of the table.
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Topic of conversation
As the host, it’s your job to introduce topics of conversation that are agreeable. When everyone has finished eating, you should all get up with the host (that's you!) and retire to the drawing room.
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