Your Majesty

Tonight's study, only one week prior to the dreaded exam, was based largely on reading the chapters of The Book devoted to stuff that I already know or take for granted like upselling, correct service procedures etc.

This is a major part of the second exam, but having done it for years now I am quietly confident of this bit. However, I was completly unprepared when I came to the section "Some Correct forms of Address". I was expecting a little ettiquette such as Sir, Ma'am etc, the usual thing you learn to do in your first week. I was struck a little aghast at the correct way to address THE QUEEN, or ROYAL PRINCES AND PRINCESSES.

Firtly, I'm pretty sure that if I'm ever called upon to serve the queen or recommend her a nice wine, that I would have passed a lot more tests than this one.

Second, I'm fairly confident that I will never come face to face with either the queen or anyone called prince or princess.

Third, I'm certain that if I were ever in this position, I would be struck speechless and just point. And maybe mumble a 'bwer' 'um um um um blah', and maybe pour something in her glass (hopefully something drinkable and potable, not just the water from the flower vase).

However, it has made me think about what kind of wine I'd recommend to the queen (most certinly something fruity, or sweet, given her age, what a sad generalisation - although, she stikes me as being someone who'd drink scotch - neat). And what I'd pour myself afterward to drink (much harder).

Afterall, she's lived through years and years of vintages, many of which would be crap, some amazing. Wine has been dirty and minimalist (because they were basic and didn't know any better and would lock up the chai for their summer holidays and leave their wine to just ferment and do its thing), to the revolution of the modern squeaky clean dry wines, with plenty of new oak and oozing flavour, and now the minimalise gravity approach with lots of unfiltered and non intervention but with cultured yeasts that make wine making so much easier, that dont taste like cultured yeasts (designed to be deceptively , but with a design, uncultured culture) it all must have come as bit of a shock to her over time (if she reflected at all, I'm sure it was all a bit subtle over the years).

She must have the most amazing wines tucked away in her cellar. I wonder is its all scary function wine, or if she has some real gems.

It would all be a bit weird having to do it at all (serve the queen), let alone call her something while doing it.

I will be very pleased if it turns up on next week's exam in the mutiple choice section as I have now studied it:
What is the correct way to address the queen?
a) yoohoo
b) oy
c) ma'am or your majesty
d) excuse me deary, would you like another glass?