She has feelings towards him typical between different sexes, although she herself does not know it.
— "Greville Memoirs" by Charles Greyville (Secretary of Britain's Privy Council from 1821 to 1859)
For the British upper society, a dinner party is never just about dining; as a social mechanism, it inevitably requires guests to abide by various intricate rules and etiquettes.
British court dinners, to some extent, differ little from other grand banquets, only that dining etiquette may slightly vary.
At most noble dinners, the entry order begins with the highest-ranking male, accompanied by the highest-ranking female, followed by the second highest-ranking male and female, and so forth.
However, in the court, since Victoria's status surpasses all, and the royal guests may not necessarily know each other, an Attendant is present to instruct who accompanies whom once everyone gathers.
