yal takes precedence of a princess,
and leads the way with the hostess, the host following next with the
princess. On the other hand, a princess of the blood royal takes
precedence of a foreign prince--her husband--and leads the way with
the host.

* * * * *

=The Host should take down the Lady of Highest Rank=, and lead the way
with her to the dining-room. The guests should follow the host in
couples according to the degree of precedence due to them, and the
hostess should follow the last couple with the gentleman of highest
rank present.

* * * * *

=When a Greater Number of Gentlemen= than ladies are present at a
dinner-party, as is often the case, these gentlemen should follow the
hostess to the dining-room and not precede her.

* * * * *

=When a Widow or Maiden Lady is Hostess,= and there is no gentleman of
the family present to act as host, the gentleman second in rank should
take down the lady of highest rank, leading the way with her to the
dining-room, the hostess following last, with the gentleman of highest
rank.

* * * * *

=In the Case of either a Husband's Sister= or a wife's sister being
required to act as hostess, precedence should be given to the
wife's sister.

* * * * *

=An Eldest Son's Wife= should take precedence of her husband's sisters
in his father's house.

As regards the precedence due to the relatives of a host or hostess, it
should give way in favour of that due to the guests not related to the
host or hostess, although their relatives might be, perhaps, of higher
rank than the guests themselves.

Occasionally, the eldest son of the house acts as second host, taking
down a lady second or third in rank; but the daughters of the house
should always be taken down to dinner after the other ladies present,
and in no case before them.

No precedence is accorded to either a lady or a gentleman by virtue of a
mother's rank.

No precedence is accorded to brides in society, though occasionally in
the country old-fashioned people consider it due to a bride to send her
in to dinner with the host on the occasion of her first dining at a
house within three months of her marriage.

Table of General Precedency

GENTLEMEN

The King.
The Prince of Wales.
The Sovereign's younger sons.
The Sovereign's grandsons.
The So