Debrett's

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With 250 years of heritage, we are the authority on the peerage, sharing etiquette, royals and directory insights, alongside coaching, advisory and investment services Debrett’s has been the recognised authority on etiquette, influence and achievement since John Debrett’s first edition of The Peerage in 1769, which continued to be published until 2019. Debrett’s has also long been synonymous with

the best of British etiquette and tradition through our range of popular publications, which include the Guide for the Modern Gentleman, Debrett’s Wedding Guide and Debrett’s Handbook. This expertise and authority informs our training academy, which offers coaching globally to corporate and private clients in social and interpersonal skills, building confidence and success in both social and professional arenas.

Today we celebrate The Princess Royal: Olympian, charity champion and for more than half a century, one of the hardest-w...
15/08/2026

Today we celebrate The Princess Royal: Olympian, charity champion and for more than half a century, one of the hardest-working members of the Royal Family.

Her Royal Highness began undertaking public engagements at the age of 18. Since then, she has built enduring relationships with hundreds of charities, organisations and military units across the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, approaching public duty with a characteristic combination of energy, practicality and formidable commitment.

Her association with Save the Children stretches back more than five decades, taking The Princess across the world to see its work at first hand. Her dedication to children, carers, international development and improving access to transport has helped bring sustained attention to causes which are not always afforded the public spotlight.

And then, of course, there are the horses. A European eventing champion and the first member of the British Royal Family to compete at an Olympic Games, The Princess Royal's equestrian credentials are quite as impressive as her Royal ones.

For generations, Her Royal Highness has offered a compelling example of public service: diligent, direct and very often, quietly done. Debrett's wishes The Princess Royal a very happy 76th birthday!

Ice in your wine? At Debrett's, we say: common sense over dogma.Summer has upstaged the dinner table - long lunches drif...
10/08/2026

Ice in your wine? At Debrett's, we say: common sense over dogma.

Summer has upstaged the dinner table - long lunches drift into afternoons, dinners stretch into late evening, and the whole style of entertaining has turned al fresco. Wine deserves the same seasonal rethink. Swipe through for our take on chilled reds, the truth about "room temperature," the case for rosé, and why a cube of ice on a hot terrace is no crime at all.

We'd love to know, what's your go-to summer wine?

Discover Debrett's complete guide to entertaining this summer - link in bio.

There is no more civilised way to host on a summer's day than afternoon tea under a shady tree, or parasol if the garden...
05/08/2026

There is no more civilised way to host on a summer's day than afternoon tea under a shady tree, or parasol if the garden isn't obliging. (The Mad Hatter's approach, tea-time without end, is one tradition best left in Wonderland.)

No alcohol required, no lunch-or-dinner-sized culinary burden - simply excellent sandwiches and scones, homemade or bought in, and a pot kept fresh. It is, conveniently, also a self-limiting occasion: once the tea has gone cold and the last scone is eaten, even the most obdurate guest knows to take their leave.

Swipe through for the history behind the ritual, the essentials of a proper pot, and the correct form for sandwiches, scones and cups - including the great Cornwall-versus-Devon debate on what goes on first.

Jam first, or cream first? Debrett's remains diplomatically neutral - but we'd love to know which camp you're in.

Discover Debrett's complete guide to afternoon tea etiquette - link in bio.

There is an art to the group holiday, and it is largely practised in the weeks before departure.The room allocation. The...
03/08/2026

There is an art to the group holiday, and it is largely practised in the weeks before departure.

The room allocation. The budget conversation. The discovery, on day two, that half the party are night owls and the other half are up at six. None of these need derail a perfectly good holiday, provided they have been discussed in advance, with a little honesty and rather more goodwill.

The rules are not complicated: be tidy, be flexible, be conscious of your share of the bill, and resist the temptation to impose your preferred pace on the group. If you have been liberal with the wine at dinner, a quiet offer to cover breakfast the following morning will not go unnoticed.

What is your cardinal rule for a successful group holiday?

Cowes Week closes the Season in true British style - with the wind, rather than the weather forecast, dictating the day....
01/08/2026

Cowes Week closes the Season in true British style - with the wind, rather than the weather forecast, dictating the day.

Held on the Isle of Wight since 1826, Cowes is the highlight of the sailing calendar and one of the last great fixtures of the Season.

Have you ever sailed Cowes Week, or watched from the shore and what's your essential kit?



📸 : Cowes Week 2018 by Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Glorious Goodwood earned its name for good reason - a meeting where the racing is only half the occasion.Since 1802, the...
28/07/2026

Glorious Goodwood earned its name for good reason - a meeting where the racing is only half the occasion.

Since 1802, the Sussex course has drawn society to what is affectionately known as "a garden party with racing." At Debrett's, we're often asked about the dress code: for the Gordon Enclosure, morning suits or lounge suits for gentlemen, and elegant day dresses with a hat or fascinator for ladies — but Goodwood has always favoured a lighter, more relaxed style than Ascot, with panama hats a fixture of the lawns.

The etiquette, as ever, is simple: dress with care, arrive on time for the first race, and remember that a well-placed bet is far less important than a well-mannered day.



📸 Glorious Goodwood by Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Dear Debrett'sI read that Count Binface will stand in the Clacton by-election. Surely, as a peer, he cannot stand as an ...
24/07/2026

Dear Debrett's

I read that Count Binface will stand in the Clacton by-election. Surely, as a peer, he cannot stand as an MP? Would he be eligible for the House of Lords instead?

It's the question surely on everyone's mind. Our experts weigh in on the rules and regulations governing Count Binface's prospects in Parliament.

Today marks a milestone for Prince George, as the eldest child of TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales officially enters...
22/07/2026

Today marks a milestone for Prince George, as the eldest child of TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales officially enters his teenage years.

Born on 22 July 2013, Prince George is second-in-line to the throne, a unique position in our national life, but one which for now, is being balanced with school, family and the pursuits of a thoroughly modern young prince.

Over recent years, we have begun to see more of Prince George at great national and Royal occasions: from Trooping the Colour and commemorations at Buckingham Palace to cheering from the Royal Box at Wimbledon. A keen sports fan, he has also become a familiar companion to his father at football matches (particularly when Aston Villa is playing).

There will of course, be many years ahead for public duty. For the moment, Prince George's appearances offer occasional glimpses of a young man growing into an extraordinary inheritance, surrounded by his family and learning gradually, the traditions of the institution he is destined to one day lead.

Debrett's wishes His Royal Highness a very happy 13th birthday!

📸 Credit: File:Obamas with the Royals (26515297651).jpg: The White House from Washington, DCderivative work: Minerva97, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The countryside has always had its own code of conduct - the difference now is drones, mountain bikes and mobile phones....
20/07/2026

The countryside has always had its own code of conduct - the difference now is drones, mountain bikes and mobile phones.

At Debrett's, we believe good manners simply adapt to the moment. Whether you're passing a horse and rider on a country lane or flying a drone over a footpath, the same principle applies: discretion and consideration will always serve you better than an air of entitlement. Our six golden rules bring the countryside code up to date, from dog leads to driving.

Which rule do you think gets broken most often - and which one do you wish more people followed?

Today we celebrate Queen Camilla, whose public work has long reflected a deeply personal commitment to literature, liter...
17/07/2026

Today we celebrate Queen Camilla, whose public work has long reflected a deeply personal commitment to literature, literacy and the welfare of others.

A lifelong reader, Her Majesty has become one of the country's most prominent advocates for the transformative power of books. Through The Queen's Reading Room, founded first as a reading initiative during lockdown and now an established charity, The Queen has encouraged readers around the world to discover new authors, exchange ideas and quite simply, to read more.

Her Majesty has also used her public position to give a voice to those affected by domestic abuse, r**e and sexual violence. Through years of sustained engagement with survivors and organisations working to support them, The Queen has helped bring subjects once too often discussed in whispers, into the national conversation.

With more than 100 charitable patronages and presidencies, Her Majesty's interests extend from literacy and the arts to animal welfare, health and active ageing - causes championed with characteristic warmth, good humour and constancy.

Debrett's wishes Her Majesty a very happy birthday.

📸 Credit: Mark Tantrum, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Address

Debrett’s Limited, MPA House, 66 Baker Street
Weybridge
KT138AL

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 5:30pm

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+442039505240

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