Dining with Queen Elizabeth is considered quite an honor but there are stringent rules that must be adhered to for those lucky enough to be invited to her table.

Though dining with the Queen can be an unforgettable experience, it is also not fun and games, as there are many rules that one must follow when eating with her. Now, two of the most important rules put in place for those dining with the Queen have been revealed to the public.

Rule #1: Don’t sit before the Queen does

Anyone who dines with the Queen must follow her lead when approaching the dining room table, and nobody is allowed to sit before she does. Even members of the royal family like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle must follow this rule.

Rule #2: You can only eat while she is eating

Nobody is allowed to eat before the Queen does, so it is her who must take the first bite. Anyone eating with her must eat fast, however, as the meal ends as soon as the Queen takes her final bite. Once the Queen is finished, everyone is finished!

Former royal butler Paul Burrell explained that while these royal rules are important, the Queen will not be too angry if anyone forgets them. He recently recounted what happened when a prince did just that.

“I was once on the Royal Yacht Britannia in the South Pacific and the queen was hosting a dinner for a local prince,” Burrell recalled. “Dessert was served. The prince forgot to watch what the queen did—instead, he popped the grapes into his finger bowl, then some cherries, then when the cream and sugar came out, he poured them in too, making a kind of fruit soup.”

“I was standing behind the queen looking horrified,” the former butler continued. “He was about to raise the bowl to his lips to drink it when he looked at the Queen and realized he had made a terrible mistake. Not wanting to make him feel awkward, she picked up her finger bowl and took a sip. Now that’s class.”

What are your thoughts about the Queen’s dining etiquette rules? Let us know in the comments section.