“We are Not Amused”: Queen Victoria at Dinner

Parody of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol with the ghost of Disrael conjuring an image of Queen Victoria's Christmas dinner table from a sleeping man. It shows the Queen seated at the head of the table hosting multitude of nationalities, representing the Empire while servants serving a large Christmas pudding. Presentation illustration to St. Stephen's Review (December 25, 1886). From British Museum via Wikimedia Commons

The strict ceremonial of the dinners of Queen Victoria has not changed since her assumption of the crown. A quarter of an hour before the time fixed, for the repast was generally held eight o'clock - all the party invited to dine with the Queen meet in the grand saloon, and form themselves into a half circle about the door where her august Majesty is presently expected to enter. The Queen, on entering, makes a beautiful curtsey (for which she is renowned), then bows to the gentlemen, and gives her hand to the ladies, who curtsey deeply. She then goes in first to table, accompanied generally by one of her sons. If any imperial or royal person is present, he sits at her right hand. 

But even in the case of General Grant she placed the Princess Beatrice between them. The Queen never removes her gloves during dinner, except at state banquets. Her gloves are new, of white kind, embroidered with black, never worn but once, had become, after using, the perquisites of the ladies-in-waiting. The Queen has a small and beautiful hand. As soon as she finishes a certain plate everyone else stops eating. After she has spoken to her guests on either side, conversation may become general, but, in a subdued tone, always deferring to the Sovereign.

Sir Arthur Helps, who was her private secretary, used to tell an amusing anecdote of being snubbed by her for telling a funny story down the table, amongst the ladies-in-waiting, to relieve the monotony of a rather dreary dinner, when the Queen remarked “What is it? We are not amused." The Queen has, however, a love of fun, and sometimes laughs heartily. - Queenscliff Sentinel, Drysdale, Portarlington and Sorrento Advertiser, Sat 18 Feb 1888, Page 2