Guidelines for Invitations to the Lieutenant Governor

Inviting the Lieutenant Governor to your Function
 

THESE GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN DRAWN UP TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AS YOU PREPARE FOR VICE-REGAL ATTENDANCE AT YOUR FUNCTION.

Her Honour’s Aide-de-Camp will contact you to:

1. Determine the time of arrival and departure.
2. Discuss appropriate dress for the occasion.
3. Determine whether Vice-Regal Salute will be played (a cd of this is available from Government House if a band is not present).
4. Arrange for a room (preferably with washroom facilities) for His/Her Honour to freshen up.

Your organization is responsible for:

1. Greeting His/Her Honour and party at door (should be a senior member of group).
2. Introducing His/Her Honour to other guests if there is a reception before the event.
3. Providing meal/drinks for the Vice-Regal Party.

THE VICE-REGAL PARTY CONSISTS OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND SPOUSE AND THE AIDE-DE-CAMP.

1. In conversation, the Lieutenant Governor and spouse are each ADDRESSED as “Your Honour” and together as “Your Honours”; and REFERRED TO as “Her Honour” or “His Honour”, and together as “Their Honours”.  They should be accorded proper respect and NOT be addressed by their Christian names.
2. Whatever the seating arrangement at a banquet, the Lieutenant Governor should be seated to the right of the Host (MC/Chairperson) at what is considered to be the head table.  His/Her Honour sits to the left of the Host (MC/Chairperson) or to the left of the guest speaker.
3. The Aide-de-Camp should be seated where there is visual contact with the Lieutenant Governor.
4. Head table guests enter first and remain standing for the arrival of the Vice-Regal Party.
5. Proper announcement of the Vice-Regal Party by the Master of Ceremonies or Chairperson is:  “Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the arrival of the Vice-Regal Party -His/ Her Honour, the Honourable  and His/Her Honour .”  (Mesdames et messieurs, veuillez vous lever pour l'arrivée du cortège vice-royal – Leurs Honneurs l’honorable  et monsieur/madame . »)
6.  Recognize the presence of the Lieutenant Governor (and His/Her Honour) before the introduction of other guests, for example, “We are pleased to have His/Her Honour (or “Their Honours” if Mr./Mrs. is in attendance), Lieutenant Governor  (and Mr./Mrs. ) with us this evening”.  Proceed then to introduce other guests, who may stand, but the Lieutenant Governor and His/Her Honour are not introduced again nor do they stand during their introduction.
7. Food 
   1. If a meal is served, His/Her Honour and then His/Her Honour are served first.
   2. If at a reception, someone should be designated to attend to the needs of His/Her/Their Honour/s.  The Aide-de-Camp will lend assistance.  (Note: Aide-de-Camp does not drink or eat during a reception.)
8.  If Lieutenant Governor is expected to make any remarks, this must be pre-arranged.  In such case, His/Her Honour would be the first to speak.  His/Her Honour may offer a Toast to Her Majesty the Queen, but this too must be pre-arranged.
9. Departure of the Vice-Regal Party will be arranged in advance by the Aide-de-Camp. The MC/Chairperson should ask everyone to stand while the Vice-Regal Party departs.  The Aide-de-Camp will lead the Lieutenant Governor and His/Her Honour out.