The protocol of the
Princely House of Aigues-Mortes
Although thought for parodic purposes, our Princely House of Aigues-Mortes follows on some occasions a protocol in line with the elementary rules of the great royal and princely houses of Europe. This protocol is exercised on rare occasions during official gala evenings organized by the Prince's Palace.
As part of these evenings, everyone must play the game and willingly lends itself to fully live this unusual experience of being at the Court of a great Prince like ours. Here are the 5 main rules that you will have to follow in such occasions.
1/ THE INTRODUCTION TO THE PRINCELY COUPLE!
For the Prince: You must say "Monseigneur" when you address him. Always wait until he greets you first, something he will not fail to do with the greatest kindness.
For the Princess: You must say "Madame" when you address her. If she accompanies the Prince, the greetings on the same principle as with the Prince are made after you have had the opportunity to present yourself in front of the Prince.
Introducing you in turn to the Prince and then to the Princess, the men nod slightly forward to greet the Princely Couple, while the ladies genuflect slightly. Kissing the hand to the Princess is no longer practiced at her own request, because this practice was the cause of an embarrassing incident when Madame was holding a glass of rosé in her hand.
Only the other Princes, Princesses and other ranks of nobility superior to this title are exempted from these forms of greeting when they are welcomed in Aigues-Mortes.
(The predicates "Your Highness" or "Your Serene Highness" are only pronounced by persons in the service of the princely couple at the Palace. These predicates are also customary for all in written correspondence.)
Note that apart from official representations, the aigues-mortese people uses the title more than the Predicate when addressing their beloved Sovereigns. You will hear more "Prince" or "Princess" than "Monseigneur*" (*Mylord) or "Madame". Apart from major official evenings, the protocol is therefore much more flexible and at the discretion of everyone.
2/ TABLE SERVICE!
During a banquet or an official meal, the princely couple is the last to enter the room. Guests must wait standing in front of their seats until the Prince is seated. The Prince opens the meal and always starts the dishes served first.
For toasts and / glass raising, these usually follow the end of a speech or a spontaneous desire to wish long life to the Prince and Princess! Those who propose them stand up while the others remain seated at the table. This is to avoid table and service accidents.
3/ THE "EÏARE"!
"Eïare" is an aigues-mortese exclamation meaning "So what!". It is customary at the Court of the Prince of Aigues-Mortes to shout "Eïare" when the Prince finishes a speech or when a glass is raised. We know that the Prince ended a speech because tradition requires that he ends all his speeches with "Voyez la vie en rosé!" (* See life in rosé !). Above all, don't forget to respond with a very playful "Eïare" each time the Prince or Princess pronounces "Voyez la vie en rosé"!.
4/ THE OPENING OF A BALL!
The balls always open with the princely couple on the waltz of the "Beautiful blue Danube". After a few dance steps, the princely couple stops and invites the assembly to join them with a graceful gesture.
5/ WEARING THE ORDER OF THE PINK FLAMINGO
In accordance with international protocol rules, all persons who have received a medal from the Grand Princely Order of the Flamingo must wear the sash of the order. This sash has now been implemented since the redesign of the medals in May 2022. Visitors and decorated micro-national leaders of the order must also wear the sash of the order in the princely house. Undecorated Micronational Chiefs of the Order of the Flamingo may wear their own regalia if they wish.
6/ THE COUPO SANTO
The Coupo Santo is our national anthem. It is also and above all the anthem of Provence referring to the sacred union between Provence and Catalonia as well as all the happy nations attached to it, including the Camargue and by repercussion Aigues-Mortes. It is therefore in homage to the happy nations who took part in the construction of Aigues-Mortes and its history that the Coupo Santo is our anthem. We therefore respect the rules specific to this anthem, we do not wear hats when the anthem is played. Out of respect, you must stand up and you must not applaud at the end.
In general, courtesy, politeness, respect for others and gallantry are part of everyday life at the Court of the Prince.
Acts or comments that are abusive, discriminatory, sexist and disrespectful are not tolerated.
They imply an immediate and irrevocable banishment from the Court of the Prince.
T
