How to Catch a Prince

Always be polite, but getting your foot in the royal door is not easy so be prepared to punch your way in! Once you’re there, be sure to dress appropriately, to smile demurely and to say as a little as possible. (Check out the ball scene in My Fair Lady for more details.)

Remember that royal protocol varies greatly according to the formality of setting. (Meeting Prince Harry at a charity reception is very different from meeting him in a nightclub!) When it comes to the younger royals, sometimes too much deference can cause embarrassment and draw unwanted attention. So when in doubt, stay calm, be as discrete as possible and take the lead from his friends.

Watch your language. When in England, never say “toilet,” “couch” or “lounge.” (These words belong in Guy Richie movies, not Hugh Grant films.)

Ignore fashion trends and stick with the classics. (Skinny jeans belong on Kate Moss not on Kate Middleton.) Instead, learn to love cashmere and tweed.

Buy a copy of Debrett’s and study your etiquette. Table manners can make or break your social standing, so memorize the proper way to eat peas and the correct direction to pass the port.

Forget soccer and football. If you want to rub shoulders with royals, fill your days with rugby and polo matches.

Do good. Royalty is not just about ball gowns and gemstones, palaces and pageantry. It is about looking beyond yourself in every situation, putting your duty to the nation before any personal desires, and using your position toward the greater good. So choose a charity that’s close to you heart and start volunteering!

Above all, have confidence and believe in yourself. If you carry yourself with the grace and dignity of a princess, you have every right to move in regal circles.