(Artwork by THLord Lachlan of Cromarty, color by Lady Iuliana de Ravenna​

CAIDAN ROYAL COURT HANDBOOK

Version 3.0 - September A.S. L (2015)

INTRODUCTION
Incoming monarchs and their courtiers have had two handbooks to assist them: the
Princess’s Handbook and the Chamberlain's Handbook, both of which covered a lot of what
is involved in managing a reign. However, some information was missing, some was
outdated, and more needed to be added. During the reign of Sven II and Kolfinna II we
decided to combine both handbooks under one name, and add all the other information that
was needed. Since then, things have evolved and the Handbook has been updated. Enjoy!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PURPOSE
A Note to the New Heirs of Caid
ROYALS
Life as Heirs and Royal Highnesses
Attending Events as Highnesses
Learn How the Kingdom Runs
Preparing to Reign
Selecting Your Court
Some Observations about Your Royal Court
Preparing for Coronation (Stepping Up)
Life as Royal Majesties
Coronation (Stepping Up)
Queen's Champion
Coronation (Stepping Down)
Issues That Will Probably Arise
CAIDAN CUSTOMS & TRADITIONS
 Champions
Gifts FROM the Crown
Gifts TO the Crown
LADIES OF THE ROSE
Princess’s Tea
Festival of the Rose
Use of Regalia
Wreaths for Crown Tournament
Yellow Roses
RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS
Responsibilities
Care and Maintenance of Kingdom Regalia
EXPECTATIONS
Attire
Words
Bearing
Decorum
EVENTS
Site Fees
Court
Awards
Warrants
COMMUNICATION
Crown Prints (CP) Articles
Thank-you Letters
FEASTING
LIFE AS A ROYAL PEER
ETIQUETTE
PROCESSIONS & COURT
Surviving Court
Seating at Feasts
Interacting with Other Royalty
Prince/Princess Royale
RETINUE
Chamberlain
Advisors
Companions
Chief Lady/Lord in Waiting
Senior Lady/Lord in Waiting
 Lady/Lord in Waiting
Largesse Coordinator
Garb Coordinator
Court Scribe
Royal (Queen’s) Guard
Captain of the Guard
Lieutenant Guards
Guard Duties
Set-up and Tear-down
Attending the Crown
In General
During Court
On Progress
Fighting at Tournaments
Fighting at Wars
CORONATION DAY
Your Procession
Basic Order of Coronation Ceremony
CHECKLISTS
Favors & Tokens
Wish List & Preferences
Online Communication
Coronation
Standard Event Day
Wars
Opening Day of the Event
In General
Crown Tournament
Before Crown Tourney
Crown Tourney Day
Before Opening Court
After Opening Court
Invocation to the Lists
Unbelted Challenges
Presentation of Consorts
Crown Lists
Closing court
After Court
Day of Meetings
 Stepping Down/Coronation
Immediately after Crown Tourney
Five Weeks Before Coronation
Day of the Event
During the Break
Previous version: Princess’s Handbook
Previous version: Chamberlain's Handbook
PURPOSE
This manual is designed to provide guidance and assistance to everyone involved in a
Caidan reign, including Their Majesties, Their Highnesses, and members of the Royal Court.
It combines salient items previously found in the Princess’s Handbook and the
Chamberlain’s Handbook and current information, into a revised “Royal Court Handbook.”

This is a handbook, not law. The suggestions in this Handbook are meant to aid you and
your court. Because this is a “living document,” revisions should be made as new traditions
are created.

A Note to the New Heirs of Caid

Congratulations! You are now the Crown Prince and Princess, and soon you will be the King
and Queen of Caid. This handbook incorporates advice and suggestions accumulated
throughout the years of Caid by the Ladies of the Rose, and various members of Royal
Courts. Hopefully, it will help you adjust to your new positions more easily, and provide
some information and resources you may find useful. By the very nature of time and
experience, it is expected that this Handbook will undergo more revisions and editions. If
you or members of your court find that additional information or advice would be helpful,
you are encouraged to consider making revisions before you pass it on to your heirs.

By basic definitions, the Royal Court includes the monarchs and the people they select to
join them during the whirlwind of Their Reign. For the past seven years, the Royal Court has
been organized in the fashion of having the Royals, their Retinue headed by the
Chamberlain, their Courtiers headed by the Chief Lady/Lord in Waiting, and the Royal Guard
headed by the Captain of the Guard. While there are many other ways to organize a court,
this has been popular and successful, so this book will organize itself along those lines.

ROYALS
“​
This is your opportunity to change your reputation or to confirm it, good or bad. Whatever
or whoever you were before no longer really matters. You will be judged forevermore by
how you reigned, what you did while on the throne – what kind of Queen you were. Choose
how you wish to be known, and become that person!”​--Duchess Ceinwen ferch Rhys

Life as Heirs and Royal Highnesses

Attending Events as Highnesses

You now have a royal coronet! You are the only one who should ever put the coronet on
your head or remove it, unless you require assistance. Under no circumstances is it
something for people to “try on for fun.” This isn’t just head jewelry--it’s a symbol of your
station and of the Kingdom.

Although you are not yet the Monarch of Caid, you should try to attend as many events as
possible, without jeopardizing your preparations for Coronation or your persona life, of
course. Some reasons for this are:
● Many people feel nervous about public speaking or being “on stage,” which is a large
part of being an SCA Monarch. (Something to consider before you and/or your
consort enter Crown Tourney.) Attending events with the reigning Monarchs while
you are Princess will allow you to ease into this without having the responsibility of
 being center stage.
● It will help you to get to know your populace and them to learn about you. Right
now, you are very interesting to the populace and they want to see you and hear
what you have to say.
● It will help you learn the day-today tasks of being a Monarch. Again, since you are
not yet the main focus, you can watch what the current Monarchs are doing, what
They say in response to difficult questions, and how They resolve problems brought
to Their attention. Also, They can show you how the awards system is handled, and
perhaps may allow you to give out some awards (this will very much depend on the
individual Monarchs and Their opinions on this particular subject). This will make it
much easier when it’s your turn.
● Finally, in Caid it has become customary for the Monarchs to attend as many events
as possible during Their reign. Becoming accustomed to this level of activity as soon
as possible will be beneficial.

Attending events as Royal Highnesses requires coordination with the current

Monarchs. At this time, even though you may have already selected your court, they
do not become official until you step up at Coronation. If you do not have a
large-enough household or social group available to take care of your needs as Royal
Highnesses, Their Majesties will loan you ladies/lords in waiting and guards from their
court to attend you. It is expected that regardless of the personal relationship you
may have with the current Monarchs, They will extend the courtesy of accommodating
you in the Royal Pavilion at events.

You do not need to provide gifts to hosting nobles at events you attend as Crown
Princess, unless you are representing the Crown, or unless you wish to, perhaps
because you are already close friends or it’s in your home area. Coordinating this
with Their Majesties can insure you are properly provided for with Largesse.

If you attend events without Their Majesties, ask in advance if They would like you
to deliver awards in Their Name. You do not get to select awards at this time, but
you can act as the voice of Their Majesties if They wish for you to do so. If so, be
aware that you will need to also coordinate with both heralds and scribes to assure
that you have award certificates with Their Majesties' signatures.

Learn How the Kingdom Runs

As it is with any performance, there are a lot of behind-the-scenes activities and
workers who make the Kingdom run smoothly that many people do not know about.
Knowing who does what can help you achieve your goals during your reign more
easily, and help inform you about who is deserving of reward. It’s especially
gratifying when you are able to reward those who work out of the limelight.

You may have come from another Kingdom where things are different. SCA cultural
anthropology is a fascinating topic, and it’s sometimes the case that traditions from
other kingdoms can be incorporated into Caid’s culture. However, try to avoid the
“Well, when I was in XX, we did it THIS way” approach.

It may have been a while since you reigned, and you may have a strong desire to
“bring back the old traditions.” As with any organization, things evolve and what
may have worked back then might not be as welcome now. Definitely be prepared
to embrace the fact that social media is an important factor in how Caid and the SCA
communicates.
Corpora & Kingdom Law - Read, or at least review, the copy of Corpora and
Kingdom Law that was given to you by the Kingdom Seneschal after Crown Tourney.
If you can’t locate it, ask for another one. It is critical that you understand how SCA
Law affects you and what your prerogatives within the Law are. You can change it,
but you cannot break it without endangering your reign and the welfare of the
Kingdom. Few of us have no enemies, and if one of yours reports a specific and
documented incident in which you violated Kingdom Law or Corpora, the Board
must, by its own rules, take notice and possibly action. You can also locate these
documents online:

● Corpora
● Caid Boke of Law

Great Officers - Communicate with all of your Great Officers. Make an effort to meet
each Great Officer in person so you can put a face to the name, and learn what
exactly it is that they do. A good working relationship with your officers can go a
long way toward helping you achieve your goals with minimum effort and stress.

Peerage Meetings - Find out when the Peerage meetings are during your reign (the
secretaries of the Orders will probably discuss upcoming dates with you) and plan to
attend them, if possible. In the distant past, the Crown called the peerage meetings,
but in Caid, the Crown is a guest at the meeting. Although these meetings may not
seem pertinent to you if you are not already a peer, it is a very important
responsibility of a Monarch. You will have an opportunity to discuss candidates at
the meetings.
When the Peerages approach you with a recommendation to elevate a candidate,
remember that even though the Peerage made their recommendations, YOU will be
given credit or take the blame for making that elevation. Therefore, it is important
that you know what kind of commentary was made during the discussion of that
candidate before you decide whether or not you want to act on that
recommendation. You do NOT have to elevate any candidate you do not agree with,
regardless of a recommendation by the Peerage.

Preparing to Reign
● Organize yourself – make checklists, practice packing the car, make sure your
vehicle is in good working order, make sure you know how to get to the event,
and definitely check the traffic before you leave.
● Deal with health or allergy problems – keep medications or other necessaries on
hand at all times, and be sure that your Chamberlain and Chief Person-in-Waiting
knows the details.
● Personal finances – reigning is expensive. Determine how much you can afford to
spend and choose your expenditures accordingly (i.e., which events really require
new garb, how much travel can you really afford, what kinds of gifts can you
realistically give, etc.) Estimate that an average reign will cost ​
at least $5,000
per person ​ and quite possibly more. Make it a top priority to discuss with the
Kingdom Exchequer what you can and can’t legally deduct from your taxes, and
what costs are covered and/or reimbursed.
● Confidentiality and privacy – get used to knowing a lot of things that most of the
Kingdom doesn’t know, and get used to keeping it that way. Pay attention to who
is around when you are discussing confidential issues; someone is almost
certainly listening. Be very clear with your court that you expect them to keep
 your confidences, and if they don’t, deal with it firmly and quickly. Also remind
them that they represent you but do not speak for you.
● Scrolls - If you don’t already have one, work with the Scribe Armarius to learn a
medieval style of signing your name. It will appear on all the scrolls for all the
awards that you hand out during the reign. Practice it! Appoint a Court Scribe
and be sure that person works closely with the Scribe Armarius to insure that the
supply of needed documents is maintained, and that formal scrolls are ready, as
needed, for important ceremonies like peerage elevations.
● Ceremonies - Ask the Crescent Herald for printed copies of Caid ceremonies.
Memorize them if you can (by the end of the reign, you’ll know “the routine”,)
but practice them all. (Often a good exercise while driving to and from events.)
● Personal and political problems will occur, both in person and online. Don’t let
them fester – deal with them right away with as little drama as possible.
Remember that once something has been posted, whether on an email list, or
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., it has a life of its own and will undoubtedly
spread and grow.

Selecting Your Court

It is entirely up to the Monarchs which positions to have on court and who should
fill them. Some positions, while customary, are not steeped in tradition, and each
court is a little different, depending on the personas and preferences. Setting up a
court hierarchy isn’t a difficult job, but make sure that everyone clearly their duties
and responsibilities, and the chain of authority. If these duties are not clear, there
may be miscommunications, duplicated efforts, wasted time, and hurt feelings.

Make sure that the people you choose are people you can work with comfortably
and respectfully, and who can work with each other. The ability to maintain
confidence should be a top priority when selecting your court.

You may have been a Chamberlain or Chief Person-in-Waiting in the past, and
that’s great BUT your job now is to be the Monarch. Let your Chamberlain and
Chief Person-in-Waiting do THEIR job! Micro-managing will only create stress and
hurt feelings.

The primary court structure used in Caid currently is as follows:

● The Retinue, headed by the Chamberlain (includes advisors, companions)
● The Court, headed by the Chief Lady/Lord in Waiting (includes senior
ladies/lords in waiting and ladies/lords in waiting)
● The Royal Guard, headed by the Captain of the Guard (includes Lieutenant
Guards and Guards).
● You can add other roles as desired, such as court scribes, costumers, bards,
brewers, pet tenders, babysitters, and more; however, oftentimes these
functions are already filled by someone on your basic staff. Having too few
people makes it hard on you; having too many make it unwieldy and
confusing.

Some Observations about Your Royal Court

● Your court is here to help you, but not be your slaves. This is a volunteer
organization. If you abuse Your court, people will disappear.
● As much as you may want to include your entire household or only close
friends, positions on court are a way to shine a light on those whose talents
might not be well-known. It’s a good idea to ask a hosting area to appoint a
 courtier who can join your core group for the day.
● These people have accepted a position on your court because it gives them an
opportunity to really play the medieval game. Therefore, let them help you!
Don’t wave them away when they offer to carry something for you, or fetch
you a drink. That’s their job and they want to do it.
● Make sure you say “please” and “thank you” a lot.
● When making a request of anyone, make sure you are giving them enough
time to comfortably get the job done (i.e., don’t ask for award promissories
10 minutes before court, or new garb two days before an event).
● Spread out the work – try to keep one or two people from doing it all.
Although they may enjoy it at first, they WILL burn out. Learn to delegate.
● Notice who is always there and who gets the job done. At the end of your
reign, you will have a chance to recognize those really special people. Make
sure you know who they are.
● You will receive far more food than you can possibly eat. Consider having a
special table always set up to share your extras with the court (anything on
the table is “fair game”). This will insure that the food doesn’t go to waste
and you won’t eat more than you should, plus your court will feel included
and rewarded.
● ALWAYS be considerate of other people’s time, the event schedule, and your
court’s personal schedules. If court is scheduled for a particular time, do
everything within your power to begin at that time.
● As the adage says, “Punctuality is the politeness of kings.” Although the event
probably won’t start without you, plan to be there at the setup time.

Preparing for Coronation (Stepping Up)

There are many things to think about when preparing for your big day. In fact, an
entire book of its own could be made to cover just that! However, without going
into a lot detail, here are some things you need to think about before Coronation.

● Select your court officers (Chamberlain, Chief Lady/Lord, and Captain) as

soon as possible so they can assist you with your preparations.
● Remember to delegate as many tasks as feasible.
● Decide if you would like a theme for your reign, and if so, choose it (i.e., are
you doing your entire reign strictly in persona, or will you participate in the
themes of different events as they occur?).
● Discuss your plans and thoughts for your reign with key court members –
Chamberlain, Chief Lady/Lord in Waiting, Captain of the Guard, etc. They will
be much more effective at helping you achieve your goals if they know ahead
of time what they are.
● Plan the Royal Progress. In other words, look at the Kingdom calendar and
decide which events you will attend. Leave some free time and remember
that things will come up, people will beg you to attend events you hadn’t
planned on, etc.
● Get a copy of the Coronation ceremony as soon as possible and review it.
Work with the Crescent Herald so that you can customize it, if you wish, while
maintaining the Kingdom’s traditions.
● Look at your speaking parts in the Coronation ceremony and attempt to
memorize them as much as possible. This will minimize stumbling the day of
the ceremony, even though a herald will be there to prompt you. (Driving to
and from events as Heirs is a great time to practice memorizing!)
Life as Royal Majesties
After a little while, you will become more comfortable in your role as Monarchs. The
day-to-day business will be less stressful and more routine. However, try never to lose the
excitement you had when you first stepped up, as this is infectious and will keep your
court and the populace interested.

Coronation (Stepping Up)

The day of Coronation is very exciting and hectic, tiring and exhilarating. Your biggest
responsibility is to be there, on time, ready to take over and participate in the
ceremonies necessary to crown you King and Queen of Caid. No matter how anxious and
stressed-out you feel, don’t take it out on the people around you.

● Review the Coronation ceremony ahead of time, and make sure that you have all
props necessary for the various points of ceremony that you will be enacting (i.e.,
the Crown Prince’s personal sword--and yours if you’re a fighter too, a yellow rose
for the Arts & Sciences officer, etc.). Discuss any questions or concerns that you
have with the Crescent Herald and his/her staff.
● Do NOT pull an all-nighter the Friday before the event, especially if you have to
travel. If you have a solid schedule and people to help, you should be able to get
everything done by the beginning of the week, which will leave you time to gather
things calmly.
● Be sure to make full use of checklists! Don’t rely on your memory for every little
detail. Going to your own Coronation isn’t quite the same as getting ready to sit in
the audience.
● You may want to consider having some small token to give to each person or group
who gives you a gift. It is not required, or traditional, but a nice touch. Ideas for
this are a small pre-done thank you scroll, little bags of cookies, a “jewel,” or some
other small largesse. Take into consideration the length of the day’s proceedings. If
there’s a banquet you may bestow tokens of your favor then--it would definitely be
historically accurate to do so.
● It is your choice whether to give awards on this day or not. Coronation is already a
very long day packed with excitement and activity, so unless there are very special
awards you feel MUST be given that day, it may be best to defer your first awards
until the next day at Queen’s Champion.
● Make sure you have tissues handy (for you and others.) You may think you’re not
going to cry but the odds are good that at some point you will.
● Relax and enjoy yourself. This will be one of the most memorable days of your life.

Queen's Champion
Queen’s Champion Tourney is also a very busy day, and you don’t want the additional
stress of rushing through court to get the fighting started. Get to the event early so that
you have time to prepare before court. Here are some items to consider for this event:

● As with all of the events for the rest of your reign, have any awards you wish to
give that day already chosen and ready. Don’t be afraid to ask your herald about
anything you don’t understand, or for which need further clarification.
 ● The Queen is expected to Progress around the event site, meeting and greeting the
populace. This may be done at any time during the day, but be sure to take into
account the lunch that is most likely planned for you, as well as to not let it get too
late. Review the section on “Customs and Traditions” for more details on this
activity.
● You want to be sure that you watch the finals of all Champion combats, including
Youth. It means a lot when the Queen observes them in person.
● It will take you a while to get used to needing to be aware of everything that’s
going on at an outdoor event. You may want to ask some of your experienced
Royal advisors to help you track activities.

Coronation (Stepping Down)

Some monarchs consider themselves “lame ducks” as soon as Crown Tourney for their
successors is over, but this should not be the case, especially since there is now more
than six weeks between Crown and Coronation. While you want to be sure to include the
Crown Prince and Princess in as many of the public and behind-the-scenes activities as
possible, you are still the monarchs until you crown your successors.
More details about preparations for stepping down are discussed further in this document
but it’s important to remember that in the SCA we always leave a site cleaner than when
we found it--and that includes the state of the Kingdom, as well as the regalia and
accoutrements. Make sure that everything is accounted for and in perfect order.

Issues That Will Probably Arise

About the time you are feeling pretty comfy, something will happen that snaps you back
to the reality underlying the game. You never know what it will be or where it will come
from, so just try to be aware of what’s going on throughout the Kingdom. There are no
specific guidelines for handling touchy situations, because they are all different. However,
here are some wise words you might find helpful:

Avoid impulsive speech and action. Make sure your heralds and other officers
keep you informed, and refuse to make snap decisions on anything you haven’t
had time to think about. “We will take it under advisement” has become a
watchword of SCA royalty for good reason – the most plausible sounding plans
and requests can be full of unspeakable pitfalls, and the lightest and most
casual jest can turn ugly.

Remember the ultimate source of your power. Your position and ability to touch
people’s lives depends on the structure of the SCA, which set up the lists you
won and the rules by which you govern. Protect the Society and its good name,
because its honor is yours. You can work to change the rules when you don’t
like them, but do so with the courtesy and restraint that should guide all
aspects of chivalrous conduct.

In Caid, the inner band of the King’s Crown is inscribed with the words, “You
Rule Because They Believe.” Your people give you the trappings of absolute
monarchy, but it is unwise to think that you can make them do whatever you
please. You may be able to command anything they already want to do, but,
while you may have some leeway because most people are reluctant to break
the illusion, be cautious about demanding things simply because it’s your whim.
The best memorial for your reign is the memory of joy, but it’s a fragile thing
easily lost by trying force your personal agenda, trying to make a lot of changes
 simply because you can, or ignoring those who are working hard because you
don’t like them. The concept that these are “your people” is an illusion; push
them too hard and they’ll suddenly remember that they’re really free citizens of
a democracy, and decide that they’re no longer interested in playing the game
your way.

It is often the case in the SCA that the line between illusion and reality is almost
non-existent. Whatever you do, you will define royalty for some of your people –
newcomers never forget their first King and Queen. As royalty, you are the ultimate
chatelaines for the Kingdom. So act like royalty; be gracious whether you feel like it or
not, ​
and look pleased with your lot in life​ . Your people need and want to admire you,
respect you and yes, envy you; if you don’t play your part, it’s difficult for them to play
theirs. Let people serve you in whatever ways they can, be it large or small; it will enhance
their enjoyment of the Society, and make it likelier that they will follow you in more serious
matters. Always remember that you are the focal point of the “play” and others will take
their motivation from your actions.
CAIDAN CUSTOMS & TRADITIONS
Champions
King’s Champion - During the reign of Jason III and Isabel, the other finalist in the Crown
Lists was officially designated as King’s Champion. Since then, there have been exceptions
to this rule--for instance, in the case of a personal conflict between the victor and the
runner-up, or for other personal reasons on either new monarch or finalist’s part. Naming
a King’s Champion is not required but there is regalia if one is designated.

Queen's Champions - The Queen now has Champions for all Combat forms: Armored,
Equestrian, Rapier, Target Archery (Handbow), Target Archery (Crossbow), Thrown
Weapons, Unarmored Combat, and Youth Combat (of varying age brackets). On occasion,
you may be asked to make other forms champions as well (i.e., Youth Target Archery).
It is your prerogative to deny any potential participant the privilege of competing to be
your champion. However, if you choose to do this, it only polite for you to notify them in
advance if at all possible or take them aside privately at the event. Do not send someone
else to do this task on your behalf unless the circumstances are such that you are unable
or unwilling to do so; in such a case, the King would be the one to do that for you.
It is also your prerogative to restrict or specify which weapons or types of weapons may or
may not be used during that event. In the past, some Queens chose not to allow any
war-related weapons (pole weapons, glaives, etc.) In other cases, the Queen has
requested that all entrants must demonstrate their ability in some artform, or has asked
that event combatant carry a consort’s favor. This event is a great opportunity for you to
help give entrants a chance to show their non-martial skills.
Carefully consider whether you wish to permit non-Caidan (out-of-town) entrants into the
Champion lists. These positions hold great honor and it’s sometimes considered a slap in
the face to your populace when someone wins who won’t be attending any events during
your reign.
If for some reason, a Champion is unable to serve, work with them to designate a
replacement. This could be the result of deployment in the armed services, a job
relocation, and/or health or family reasons. Usually the winner of the specific list becomes
the Queen's Champion for that martial form. You may elect to change this, but it requires
great finesse so as not to upset people, especially those who have made the effort to enter
the Lists. While you may not be able to attend every single event during your reign, it’s
expected that you will be present at any Queen’s Champion events.

Gifts ​
FROM​
the Crown
It has become customary for the Monarchs and hosting nobility to exchange small gifts at
the opening court of an event. A gracious exchange of gifts will add to the overall appeal
of your reign, and set a good example. Give some thought to the gift and check the
Likes/Dislikes section for the Baronage or Monarchs of the area you’re visiting. This is not
an opportunity to do a wholesale dump of gifts you received that you may not want.

Some Monarchs have appointed a court member to arrange gifts and/or gift baskets for
them. If you choose to do this, remember – they are NOT providing the gift, just
arranging it. Make sure you give them money ahead of time to purchase the components,
and time enough to do it! Remember also that Corpora has placed some restrictions upon
certain types of gifts, so be sure to consult with the Kingdom Exchequer about this. Also
respect local regulations (especially about alcohol). You don’t want an area to lose access
to a site over a bottle of wine!

Gifts ​
TO​
the Crown
It is not unusual for monarchs to receive gifts from members of the populace during the
reign. As the prime example of courtesy to the Kingdom, it is expected that the Crown
makes a point to keep track the gifts that come in both at court and throughout the day(s)
at an event. It is advised to appoint a member of the Court to do this. In particular, insure
that things aren’t re-gifted inappropriately.

All gifts coming in that just have the Kingdom’s arms on them (or those of King, Queen,
Prince and Princess) are considered property of the Kingdom of Caid and become items of
regalia. Items with both Kingdom arms and your personal arms, or just your personal
arms, are your personal property.

As a side note: you are going to get a LOT of baskets. A LOT. You can certainly re-use the
baskets themselves for gifting, assuming they are not hand-crafted or personalized, and
perhaps even make a ceremony of it, saying that you believe in returning baskets full,
which gives you an opportunity to decrease your collection and show that you have used
the items in the basket that the area gave you. You can donate them for area raffles too.
(However, just because you may have been Queen before doesn’t mean that your new
sisters should be deprived of their share of gifts and baskets.)

Whatever you do, DO NOT take to social media to post pictures and whine about how
many baskets you have! That is most definitely NOT well-received.

It is considered polite to send thank-you notes for gifts received. How you handle this is
up to you. Some Queens prefer to write notes themselves while others choose a secretary
to prepare the notes for them. In either case, be sure that YOU sign the notes. Email is
acceptable (and possibly more efficient) although not quite as elegant. Be sure when the
note-taker is gathering information about gifts, s/he obtains both a surface mail and email
address. You can also help by requesting on your Royal Preference page that gifts include
information about the gifters and artisans.

If you decide to do the thanking on Facebook, be sure that you do so consistently

throughout your reign. It’s the little things that count.

LADIES OF THE ROSE

The Order of the Rose was created on January 6, 1968 by Sheryl of Thespis, Queen of the
West, and was intended to include all ladies who ruled as Queen. Over the years, different
kingdoms have altered this and made it a polling order. However, Caid has remained true
to the original intention (and has the good fortune to include among the populace
Countess Amina de Talavera, formerly known as Sheryl of Thespis.) We include those who
have ruled as Queen or territorial Princess, not only of Caid but we also extend the
courtesy to former Queens and territorial Princesses who have moved to Caid.
Compendium Caidis - Roses page
Caid’s Ladies of the Rose represent decades of experience in the SCA and provide a
valuable resource. A number of them are also Laurels and Pelicans, as well. They can be
quite strong-minded and sometimes quick to offer advice, even when not asked, but two
things are true for all: they have been where you are and they care deeply about Caid.
Princess’s Tea
For the past 20-odd years, a “tea party” is held for each Princess prior to Coronation,
attended by the Ladies of the Rose. The purpose of this tea is to introduce the new
Princess to the Ladies of the Rose and to have an opportunity to become comfortable with
the Ladies and ask questions. In Caid, Ladies of the Rose represent a peerage order that
includes former Queens and Princesses (of Principalities) both in and out of Caid. In some
Kingdoms, the Order of the Rose is a polling order but such has never been the case in
Caid, nor was it the intention of the founder of the Order for the SCA, Countess Amina de
Talavera--who happily for us is a Caidan.

This can be a costumed activity either at an event or private home, or it can be a private
party at which garb is not required. Customarily, there is good food, a variety of
beverages (both unleaded and adult), and a lot of conversation, including advice that
Ladies of the Rose have for the new Crown Princess. Some of it is quite humorous, but
even that has a solid grounding in a real event that occurred to that former monarch.

Recently, it has become the responsibility of the most recently stepped down Lady of the
Rose to host the Tea (i.e., the Princess’ royal “Grandmama”). That Lady can either
personally host the Tea or pass the responsibility on to another Lady, as long as she
makes sure it is being handled. Remember that this will one day be your responsibility,
when you have a royal “granddaughter!”

If this is not your first reign (especially if you’ve been Queen twice already), consider the
upcoming event schedule. If it’s going to be a burden on the Ladies of Rose (or you) to
have a full, formal event, you may decide not to have a Tea, or you may decide to turn it
into a work party for Largesse. Sometimes these Teas are held at events like Portrero or
GWW. Discuss other obligations the Ladies of the Rose may have at those events. You
may decide to have a sort of open house so that they can come by for a brief period
rather than trying to be in several places at once. Explore your options carefully and
courteously.

It is traditional that the Queen make a Progress (a procession) around the eric at the
Queen’s Champion tournament, sometime during the day. All Ladies of the Rose who are
present are invited to accompany Her Majesty on this Progress. During this Progress, the
Queen is introduced to members of the populace, either by an attending Herald, or She
may ask that someone in the pavilion or area she’s visiting introduce everyone to Her by
name. The Queen has a brief chat with the populace and distribute some small token to
her people (a cookie, a piece of candy, a flower).

It’s very helpful when a Lady of the Rose who lives in the area of those being introduced
can add some information about the people. This is the only “traditionally” expected
Progress, but it is a nice touch at any event, and the Queen doesn’t have to distribute
tokens on other Progresses unless she wishes to do so.

Festival of the Rose

Originally called The Queen’s Arts Tea, this is an official Kingdom event held in your honor
and designed to focus on the arts and sciences. Because it may not be quite as appealing
to fighters to attend (because there’s usually no fighting), it has become customary to
make a special effort to include fighters who are also artisans so that they can set an
example for their brothers and sisters-at-arms. As with all calendar dates, the event may
have been set up a year or so before your reign, so your Chamberlain and Chief
Lady-in-Waiting should work closely with the event steward to make sure that the event
accommodates your wishes and the resources of the hosting area.

Use of Regalia
It is traditional in this Kingdom for ONLY the Caidan monarchs to utilize the Caidan regalia
(i.e., the thrones, the crowns, etc.). This means that no one else should be sitting in the
Thrones or putting on the gear, ​ especially the crowns and coronets​
.

While it may seem like a friendly gesture, or all in fun, to share these things with a
monarch from another Kingdom, remember that most people in Caid revere these items
highly and by displaying casual regard for them, you are diminishing their importance.
Therefore, if, for example, another monarch tries to sit in an empty Caidan throne, politely
but firmly offer him or her another chair.

Remember that all regalia is meant for the Monarchs, not the Prince or Princess (other
than those items specifically designated for them, such as the coronets and banners).
Therefore, during your time as Heirs, it is expected that you will request permission from
Their Majesties before using any item of their regalia. Once you become royal heirs, your
personal banners are put aside in favor of those in the Kingdom regalia.

Wreaths for Crown Tournament

It has become a tradition that the Ladies of the Rose gather during the day of Crown
Tournament to craft the rose and rosemary wreaths presented to the victors of the day.
This was a conscious decision by the Ladies of the Rose for several reasons. There were
several instances in the past where the wreaths being provided were not only plain, but
unacceptable (plastic roses, etc.). Also, the wreaths being made by Ladies of the Rose
imbues them with some symbolism and special attention from those who have been
there. It is also a visible sign of cohesiveness by the Order of the Ladies of the Rose.
Besides these very good reasons, it can also be very enjoyable and gratifying for the
Ladies of the Rose to see the beautiful end result. If for any reason you are allergic to
roses and/or rosemary, be sure you let someone know!

Yellow Roses
The symbol of the Queen of Caid is a golden (yellow) rose and the display (and wearing )
of a wreath of yellow roses is reserved for Queens, Crown Princesses, Territorial
Princesses, and Ladies of the Rose. While kingdoms and non-Royal members of the
populace might have a golden rose on their device or badge, it’s not considered
appropriate for non-Royal ladies to display a golden rose on their garb unless it’s part of
their approved device, and then it should be displayed within the device as a whole so as
not to cause confusion.

The Queen may give yellow roses as She pleases--real ones, as well as a Legion of
Courtesy, which is a golden rose dependent from a blue and white cord or ribbon.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS
Having entered Crown Tournament and won, you and your consort have made a public
commitment to serve as Caid’s monarchs. Unless absolutely necessary due to things like
unexpected military deployment or job transfer, or a personal (family or health) situation,
you are expected to meet your obligation. It sounds scary (and in some ways it is), but
what it means is that you are expected to behave like a grown-up. It doesn’t mean you
can’t have fun too, but you must be ever mindful about your actions and words, both in
public and on social media.

Keep in mind that a Monarch does not get to do whatever they want. In fact, there will be
more obligations and restrictions on your behavior and your time during your reign than at
any other time in your SCA life. ​
Remember: you serve the people, not the other way
around.

Responsibilities
● There are many varied responsibilities involved with being a Monarch of the
Kingdom of Caid, and certain things have become expected of our Monarchs by the
populace, officers and peers of the Kingdom. Although they do change and evolve,
following are some guidelines you may find helpful.
● Work with officers and peers to resolve issues brought to your attention. Be sure
you have as much information as possible about the situation before you make any
decisions. There are as many sides to the truth as there are people involved, plus
what actually happened.
● Work with Kingdom Seneschal to maintain, uphold, and/or revise Kingdom Law.
Read ​ The Boke of Caidan Law​ !
● Do the best you can to maintain a full staff of Great Offices. If one of the required
offices stays vacant longer than 30 to 45 days, the Kingdom’s status, and its ability
to sponsor events and bestow valid awards, could be in jeopardy.
● Act as a mediator. From time to time, you will be called on to solve problems
and/or misunderstandings between two or more parties. It is important to be fair
and impartial. As noted above, listen carefully to all sides, and take time to consult
with advisors, as needed, before making any decisions.
● Attend peerage meetings when invited. Don’t be afraid to ask questions but try to
spend more time listening than talking.
● Promote major Kingdom events (Collegium, wars, etc.) by talking about them at
Court and on Facebook, and by attending them if at all possible.
● Visit as much of the Kingdom as you can, including what are described as “outlying”
areas. These areas are frequently neglected and your visit can help make them feel
included. If necessary, it’s ok to split events between Monarchs, or ask Your Heirs
and local Barons and Baronesses to present awards in Your name.
● Encourage all aspects of the SCA – fighting, arts & sciences, and service. A kind
word or small gift from the Crown can mean a lot to a fighter, artisan or any person
doing something noteworthy!
● Make yourself available to the Kingdom – officers, peers, general populace – as
much as possible. A good monarch should listen carefully to what her populace
wants in a Kingdom and a monarch. That said, be sure you are clear about
reserving time for your own life: work, family, etc. You don’t want to burn out
part-way through the reign.
● Participate fully in events by attending feasts and revels, at least for a little while,
in addition to the main event, even if you don’t feel like it, unless you are ill or you
 have travel arrangements that can’t be altered. Be sure to make your apologies
rather than just disappear (and if you’re taken ill for some reason, ask your
Chamberlain or a courtier to extend your regrets for your departure.)

Care and Maintenance of Kingdom Regalia

The Regalia Officer, who is a member of the Order of the Rose, keeps a complete list of
the items of Regalia available to Their Highnesses and Their Majesties. Remember that
any regalia You use becomes Your financial responsibility - some of these items are
very expensive. Whether the regalia is in the possession of the Royals, or a member of
Royal Court, it is very important that ​
regalia and personal items are watched very
closely at all times​ . Never leave anything entrusted to you unattended, ​ especially
the Crowns or Coronets​ . These items are not only costly; they hold traditional
significance and sentimental value. Always treat these items with the care and honor
they deserve.

If there are offers for new items from the populace, please direct them to Regalia
Officer <​
regalia@sca-caid.org​> before authorizing any expense or creation. Any item
that has only the Kingdom arms on it is the property of the Kingdom. Should any item
of Regalia become damaged during the course of the reign, contact the Regalia Officer
immediately to discuss the degree of damage, and an appropriate course of action.

Confer with the Kingdom Seneschal and Kingdom Exchequer regarding changes you
might need to make to your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance to cover the inclusion
of the regalia during your reign.

EXPECTATIONS
Meeting the populace’s expectations is the most difficult part of being a good monarch,
because everyone has different expectations. Different Kingdoms have different styles
of Monarchs that they seem to prefer. You will be compared to other monarchs, but
don’t let that keep you from establishing your own style.

In the past, Caid preferred monarchs who were more “Royal” (formal). In the past
several years, and certainly with the use of Facebook, being more casual is accepted,
and in certain circumstances, encouraged. It is a challenge to strike the correct balance
of “Royal” and “approachable” and “fun.”

The main thing to remember is that you are now the rulers of Caid. You may see
yourself as the same old you but with fancier headgear, but there is much, much more
to it than that. Now it’s about how others see you, and the perception of others is
difficult to manage. While it’s impossible to please everyone, there are some
commonsense guidelines that will help you enjoy a successful reign.

Attire
Royalty in the Middle Ages was as well dressed as possible, especially in public. (After
all, they had real staff!) The King was usually a warrior, and often appeared in armor
even at an indoor court. In the SCA, a warrior-king should look like a King rather that
"some guy in armor.” ​ Remember that, as Royalty, you are the hallmark by which
the entire Kingdom is judged.​

If costuming is not your forte, there are almost always costumers throughout the
Kingdom, including Laurels, who are willing to help with garb. Don’t be afraid to have
your Chamberlain ​ ask​ (rather than ​ demand​ )​ help for you in this area. However, be
careful not to assume that you will automatically receive free costuming services from
whomever you like (or free at all – be prepared to pay for any costuming you are
offered. You are, after all, a patron of the arts!)

Words

Understand that ​ everything ​ you say (and post) now takes on a hundred times more
weight than it did before. If you criticize someone, it can be crushing. If you praise
someone lightly, it can mean everything. If you say something crude or post what
might be considered an inappropriate photo, it will be all over the Kingdom in minutes,
if not seconds--and possibly the entire Known World just as quickly. If you say
something vague, trust that someone will "hear" it in the worst possible way and pass
it along as fact. Keep that in mind with all your communication. It’s not fun and it’s not
nice, but it is the way it is. Regardless of rank and title, people will be people.

Bearing

At the same time that you are attempting to be this “Royal” person, try to remain
accessible to the populace. Think of someone you have always regarded as a perfect
hostess--someone gracious, warm and caring. Think about how that person would act
in your situation and use that as a guide.

This dual role may seem difficult or even impossible to achieve. However, the most
important aspect of it is that you are trying. The populace is very perceptive and they
seem to know when a person cares about the Kingdom, the job of being good
monarchs, and the image they are projecting. Even if everything doesn’t go perfectly,
if you are seen to be doing your best, the Kingdom can be very forgiving. kKeep in
mind that this works both ways. If you do not appear to be trying your best, they’ll see
that, too. This isn’t said to scare you but it’s better to hear it now, at the beginning,
rather than later when things will be harder to fix.

Decorum

Yes, the SCA is a game. Yes, it’s all in fun. And No, you may not do whatever you feel
like, whenever you feel like it, while you are monarchs.

The Crowns are positions around which very reverent ideas are based. During your
reign, you will embody the beauty, romance and pageantry of the Middle Ages as seen
through works like ​
Le Morte d’Arthur and highly romanticized books and movies about
the time. For many people, their SCA lives are much more than that; it is a major and
important part of their lifestyle. Don’t ruin their game by being rude, crude, or
thoughtless.

Some specifics to keep in mind are:

● Encourage others to participate in your perspective of the SCA, but do not force it
upon the populace. While many people refer to “The Dream,” remember that vision
is not necessarily a universal one beyond furthering the cause of courtesy, chivalry,
and honor.
● Avoid impulsive speech and action. Remember that if you do not have the answer,
it is fine to say "I'll get back to you on that" or “We shall take the matter under
advisement” or “Thank you for sharing that with me. We shall consider your
 words.”
● Most of the populace will never know any more about you than what they observe
from a distance, and the impression they get while attending court. Since they can
only judge appearance, it is obvious that appearance must be exemplary.
● Allow people to bow or reverence you. This is part of the SCA game, and while it
may be hard to get used to, it goes with the job. Just acknowledge them with a nod
or a smile and continue on your way. Some may wait to be acknowledged, so
watch!
● The Queen is First Lady of Courtesy – this is an actual title that belongs to her in
Caid. Therefore, you will be expected to always be courteous “to those of every
degree,” as it says in SCA ceremonies. Encourage courtesy in others and lead by
example.
● Thank your hosts at every event.
● Acknowledge guests (i.e., monarchs from another Kingdom) with toasts and kind
comments.
● Even if it is not publicly witnessed, a royal “thank you” goes a long way. In fact,
sometimes a private "thank you" travels further than a public one.
● Make sure you have someone keep track of what gifts you are given and by whom.
● Thank-you notes should be sent out weekly.

EVENTS
Kingdom Law requires that the monarchs attend four events during their reign: (1) the
Crown Tourney they win, (2) their own Coronation as King and Queen, (3) the Crown
Tourney to determine their heirs, and (4) the Coronation of those heirs. However
Caidan tradition expects the monarchs to attend a whole lot more!
Tradition lists the following Caidan events that the Crown regularly attends :

● Twelfth Night
● Baronial and Shire Anniversaries (most, if not all, and which may include a trip
to Western Seas)
● Gyldenholt Unbelted
● Collegium Caidis (at least one day)
● Festival of the Rose (which is held in YOUR honor)
● Queen’s Champion Events (there is more than one)
● Crown Prints Prize Tourney
● Crown Tourney
● Day of Meetings/Privy Council (held the day after Crown Tourney)
● Coronation
● Princess’ Tea
● Peerage Meetings (normally, each peerage holds one formal meeting per reign)
● Arts & Sciences Pentathlon (every two years)
● Potrero War (May)
● Great Western War (October)
● Highlands War (September)

There are out-of-kingdom events which Caidan monarchs have been attending either
traditionally (as in, for years) or customarily (as in, more recently). You may be unable
to attend all of these. The reign is long and budgets only go so far, so choose what
suits your schedule and funds the best. If you can’t make to all, don’t let anyone make
you feel that you’ve let the Kingdom down; your real-world self has to be able to
support your SCA self!

● Estrella War Treaty meeting

● Estrella War (February, Kingdom of Atenveldt)
● Gulf Wars (March, Kingdom of Gleann Abhann)
● Pennsic War (August, Kingdom of Æthelmearc)

Site Fees
The Event Steward may offer complimentary entry to the Crown, but this is not a
guarantee, nor does it mean that you shouldn’t donate your site fee if you so choose.
However, everyone else on Court and Guard should sign in and pay their fees, and and
everyone should clearly display their site tokens as examples to the populace.

Court
One of the single most visible acts of the Crown involves presiding over Court. As you
have most likely experienced previously by attending a court, courts can be anything
from short to long, exciting to boring, or emotional to dull. While holding court may be
a true pleasure for the Monarchs, it is important to always remember that court is also
a show for the spectator. How you are remembered as a Monarch is influenced heavily
by how people remember your courts – not only in terms of WHAT you do during court,
but HOW you do it. The inscription inside of the King’s Crown says it best, “You rule
because they believe.” Part of your challenge as the Monarch of Caid is to do
everything within your power and ability to give the populace reason to believe.
Following are some suggestions for Court:

● Keep courts as brief as possible, without sacrificing important business – you

should not leave your populace standing in the hot sun any longer than
necessary (and if the day turns out to be hotter than expected, be flexible and
consider moving court to a shaded area.)
● Recognize the populace with Kingdom awards, but don’t hand them out like
candy. A carefully chosen award is more meaningful than one that has been
given to everyone in the area! Consider requesting that your officers, Barons
and Baronesses identify local people who deserve awards.
● Try to remain interested (or at least look like you are) at court, even a long
one.
● Stand up when you give awards at Court. Sitting gives the impression that you
don’t care about what you’re doing.
● Speak up – it is polite to speak loudly enough to be heard by the majority of
your audience. Have someone appointed (like a herald) to give you a signal if
your volume starts to drop, if necessary.
● Say something special for each award recipient, if at all possible. Use “cheat
sheet” cards, if necessary, to remember what they did to deserve the award.
● There are people who go to court but chatter throughout the proceedings, which
is not only distracting but makes it difficult for people in the back of the hall or
site to hear you. If you see people doing this, especially standing in the back,
quietly send a member of your court to go back there and suggest that the
chatters move their conversation outside or away from the area. If that doesn’t
 work, you may need to stop court and address them yourself but try to avoid
the extra drama if you can.

Awards
One of the best parts of being monarchs is the ability to recognize the talents and
effort of others through the bestowing of awards.

Letters of recommendation will begin to arrive almost immediately, and your

predecessors will also pass along recommendations from their reign. Keep all
recommendations (both written and email) in a safe place until they are read and
recorded.

It’s up to you whether you want to handle these yourself or assign a trusted member
of your court to do it. In any case, you should keep detailed records of who sent the
letter, when you received it, who is being recommended for which award, and action(s)
taken. Letters should be filed and retained even after information is transferred to a
spreadsheet.

Do your homework. Talk to the local baronage, if the recommendation is for someone
in their area. Talk with peers and advisors who know the people being recommended.
Remind everyone with whom you speak that the discussion should be held in the
strictest confidence.

Even if a formal scroll is not being given at the time the award is bestowed, some sort
of interim scroll will need to be completed, if one goes along with the award. Be sure to
consult with the Scribe Armarius regarding proper format for these documents.
Someone on your court should be assigned the task of insuring that certificate,
medallions, and award cords inventories are always maintained. Certificate & Cord
Inventory: ​http://royals.sca-caid.org/awards/inv.php

If the awards box is running low, check with Regalia Officer and Kingdom Exchequer
for more medallions and Scribe Armarius for more certificates. Areas may gift you with
award cord to keep the supply full but you or the courtier handling largesse can always
put out a call for more. You want to be sure that the following Kingdom webpages are
kept current.

The herald of the day is responsible for preparing a “Court Report” listing all the
awards given at the event. You or your court scribe should review the list with them
sometime during the day or providing your own report as well.

Scribal FB Pages
Be sure that your Court Scribe has joined the following FB pages:

● Caid College of Scribes (public group)

● Caid Award Certificate Project (closed group)
● Digital Scribes of Caid (closed group)
● Scribal Play Day (public group) - optional
● SCA Scribes (public group) - optional
● SCA Scribes and Illumination (public group) - optional
Awards Database
A Supplemental Order of Precedence is maintained on the Kingdom website at
http://royals.sca-caid.org/awards/op.php/​Either you or a member of your court should
work with the Crescent Herald and the Kingdom Webwright to be sure that the
information is updated after every event.

Bestowing Awards
One of the most gratifying things about being monarchs is the ability to give awards,
especially to those who have been working “under the radar” for a long time. However,
this ability has some pitfalls too. Friends may assume/expect that because you’re
Queen, you’ll give them an award. People you barely know may suddenly act like
you’ve been best friends forever in hops of getting an award. People may even come
up to you and say, “Why did you give so ‘n so that award?”

Peerages can be particularly tricky. If someone who has been doing work for a long
time doesn’t have a peerage, there’s probably a reason for that, which can range from
bad relations with former monarchs to something about their work that doesn’t meet
peerage standards. As much as you might want to right a perceived oversight,
remember that after you step down, the recipient still has to deal with the results of
your generosity. This is why it’s important to read the recommendations from the
peerages and talk to them before you decide to elevate something. On the positive
side, you’ll know when you made the right decision.

Warrants
One of the responsibilities of the Crown involves the warranting Greater Officers. As
“chairman” of the regional organization, your signature on warrants may be needed for
the officers to continue doing their jobs. You may not know everyone listed on the
forms you sign, but you should make every effort to meet them in person and talk to
them.

As of late 2014, the Pelicans and Laurels are being consulted via their respective e-mail
lists on Great Officer changes, so this gives you another source of information about
the people stepping into major offices.
COMMUNICATION
Crown Prints​
(CP) Articles
It is expected that the Crown will contribute a monthly article to the ​ Crown Prints​,
which generally takes the form of a letter to the Populace. The schedule for publication
is located here: http://chronicler.sca-caid.org/submissions.php

Work closely with the Kingdom Chronicler to accommodate the publication schedule.
Make sure that you are aware of when each article will appear and mention upcoming
Wars, needs of the crown, thank you’s, and changes to policy or law that will be
pertinent at the time.

Thank-you Letters
Thank-you letters written by and/or signed by the King and Queen should be sent to
event hosts and in acknowledgment of gifts and presentations. It’s best to send the
thank-you within a week of receiving the gift, although after a major event like
Coronation, you may need more time. You may not have time to write and distribute
these yourself, so you’ll want to designate someone on your court as your secretary.
This person will keep track of what you receive, who gave and/or made it, what their
surface and email address is, and helping you prepare the notes. There’s a good
chance that during the reign you’ll receive note cards, so that will help (and sometimes
you get stamps, which helps too!)

Even if you have assigned the bulk of the note preparation to the secretary there will
be special notes you want to do yourself, perhaps to your own area, to close friends, or
to monarchs of other kingdoms. You want to be sure that everyone is thanked in as
personal a way as possible. While Facebook is convenient, remember that once you’ve
thanked one person publicly, you’ll probably need to keep doing it that way or others
will feel slighted.

FEASTING
One of the grandest and most historically-accurate activities we do in the SCA involves
a feast. Community gatherings over food and drink are one of the most common rituals
shared among all cultures and time periods. Thus, it is important for the King and
Queen to participate at feasts, and help set the tone for everyone’s experience.

In addition to traditional feasts, it has become customary for TRMs to be guests at al

fresco lunches and dinners. If the planned meal is potluck and it hasn’t already been
stated in the event notice, arrange with your Chamberlain to request that recipe
ingredients be included with the dishes. Given the variety of modern food allergies,
your request will probably benefit other diners.

You will be given the honor of going through the line first, so be sure to sample
judiciously. Members of the court and/or guard should not expect to have first priority,
nor should they expect that their feast fee will be comped.

It may happen that you have not received an invitation prior to the event for lunch and
the court has already made plans for lunch, and then an invitation is made at the
event. You can explain that the court had already made preparations but you would be
happy to see what has been prepared (and there’s almost always room for dessert!)
● When eating with others, remember that you set the pace and the tone.
Traditionally, they can’t begin until you do, so don’t keep the other diners (and the
cooks) waiting.
● Your or your Chamberlain should notify the head chef well in advance about your
food allergies, even if the information is already posted on your Royalty page on
the Kingdom website. If your allergy is such that it requires special food, offer to
bring your own.
● Make sure you find out what the seating arrangements are. The Crown is usually
comped for the feast but it’s not appropriate to assume that you can invite
members of your court to sit at the head table too, or be comped for their meals.
Your Chamberlain should work with the event stewards so that you know who else
will be at the head table. You’ll want to prepare a suitable toast for those guests, as
well as the kitchen staff and event stewards.
● If the feast is held in a Barony, the local landed Baron and Baroness are your hosts.
(If visiting royalty is attending, you are their hosts.) If the Baron and Baroness give
you the opportunity to add guests to the head table, consider including your
champion(s) or perhaps peers who were elevated at the event, with the
understanding that their household may have already made arrangements to sit
together to celebrate the elevation. Do your best not to impose on your hosts’
generosity.
● Remember that the King or Queen should always toast the visiting royalty, hosts,
event stewards, kitchen staff, and, of course, the Kingdom. Likewise, acknowledge
all toasts given to you and your hosts.
● Many of the sites we use are dry, and that includes the parking lot. Don’t
jeopardize the area’s use of the site by sneaking out to the parking lot for a drink.

LIFE AS A ROYAL PEER

Once you have reigned as a monarch, your SCA life will be forever changed. Many
people think that once they step down, life will go back to normal, except for a new
title and a coronet, but such turns out not to be the case. Here are some of the
responsibilities and expectations that come with being a Royal Peer:

● Step down gracefully and let Their new Majesties take the reins of the Kingdom.
● You will be much more of a focal point than you were before. People have spent the
past 6-9 months watching you, and they will continue to do so, including
commenting about what you wear and say and do.
● Your opinions and words will carry more weight than they did before your reign,
although not as much as if you were still on the throne.
● You are now a Lady of the Rose, and whether you like it or not, you are expected to
act like a peer. After your successors’ Coronation, some former Queens find it
difficult to “step down,” as it were, and feel that they have a responsibility to stay
deeply ​ involved in the running of the kingdom. Don’t be one of these people! The
new Queen is entitled to enjoy her reign fully, just as you did--and may do again.
● You may not agree with what your successors are doing but if you have a problem,
discuss it with them directly--not in public and not on social media. Even if they may
not be behaving in a courteous manner, there’s no reason that you shouldn’t.
● Unless you’re already part of a household, get used to doing things for yourself
again. Hopefully, courteous people will offer to carry things for you but in case they
don’t, give yourself a stepping-down gift of a small cart or conveyance of some kind.
● As a peer of Caid, those from other Kingdoms will judge Caid by your appearance
and behavior.
ETIQUETTE
Tradition and ceremony provide continuity for the populace and a general outline for your
reign. These rules of etiquette are only guidelines, however; situations and circumstance
will dictate your actions. Following some basic rules helps avoid hurt feelings and confusion
because everyone knows what to expect, especially in awkward times when you might not
have a clear idea of what to do.

Crowns
You are the King and Queen. No one has a higher station during your reign, which means
that no one should remove the crown from your head (unless you need help) or place the
crown upon your head (again, unless you need help, but it should be done away from the
public.) You need to do these things yourself, unless you are physically unable to do so.
With the sole exception of Their Majesties, this also applies to the Prince and Princess
Coronets.

Kingdom Arms
Winning Crown Tourney means that you and your consort have made a huge commitment
to a large group of people to put their best interests ahead of your own. To symbolize this
commitment, your personal device is put aside and you use specific Royal arms during your
reign. This doesn’t mean that you can’t receive gifts with your personal device on them, but
for the duration of the reign, your coat of arms is that of the King and Queen of Caid.

● The King's Arms are identical to the Kingdom Arms (Azure, a crown within a laurel
wreath Or, between three crescents within a bordure embattled argent).

● The Queen may use the Queen's Arms (Azure, a rose Or between three crescents, all
within a bordure embattled argent) or the Kingdom’s Arms (Azure, a crown within a
laurel wreath Or, between three crescents within a bordure embattled argent)

● The Crown Prince may use the Crown Prince's Arms (Argent, three crescents and on
a chief azure a dolphin embowed argent) or the Kingdom Arms, differenced by a
label Or.

● The Crown Princess may use the Crown Princess’s Arms (Argent, three crescents and
on a chief azure a rose Or) or the Kingdom Arms differenced by a label Or.

● For a graphic display of these devices, go to:

http://wiki.caid-commons.org/index.php/Caid#Royal_Arms

PROCESSIONS & COURT

For many years, it was the custom to hold a Grande Marche in which the populace
assembled in a line and then processed into court in order of precedence. Given the number
of people at event, it’s no longer practical to do this. However, it is perfectly acceptable for
Their Majesties to Process into Court, especially at major events like 12th Night.

In such cases, the order of the procession is:

● Herald (the Crescent Herald, TRM’s personal herald, or a member of the Kingdom’s
heraldic staff, who announces the procession.
● Champions (with or without their Consorts, as TRM prefer)
● Chamberlain and Chief Lady-in-Waiting
● Companions and Advisers
● Guards and Ladies paired up in order of rank, with the Captain of the Guard processing
last--unless the Guard marches first and arrays themselves to “protect” the area around
the thrones
● And finally, the King and Queen
● If there is visiting royalty they process into court after TRM are standing at the thrones
so that they can welcome their guests. If the visitors have no retinue, attendants from
TRM’s court should be assigned to escort them and wait on them during the day.

Technically, no one should sit down until they have the Crown’s leave to do so, unless prior
permission has been received or they are unable to stand.

When court is over, Their Majesties stand, the King offers the Queen his hand, and they exit
as they were while seated, followed by guests and members of their court. If TRM are
remaining in the throne area, the herald gives the populace leave to depart.

Surviving Court
Despite your best efforts, Court can sometimes be lengthy, so you will want to be seated on
the thrones for most of it except:

● When addressing the populace.

● To welcome the Crown Prince and Princess into court.
● To welcome visiting monarchs. There is no need to stand when messengers
(non-royalty) present their credentials unless you and the King make this part of
your regular procedure. For theatre’s sake, do not stand when a messenger from
another kingdom brings a declaration of war, unless you are also a fighter or you are
the fighter who won the Crown.
● Making presentations to your hosts
● Bestowing awards. Other than the Legion of Courtesy, the Signa Reginae, or a
personal commendation, both monarchs stand when bestowing awards.

You may remain seated:

● To receive gifts from the populace, especially when the presenters are children so
that you don’t appear to be looming over them. Some presenters may stay kneeling
until you raise them up; it depends on what customs they follow.
● During announcements. You don’t want to distract attention, especially during
announcements about the day’s events or when new laws are being read.

Instruct your court that unless absolute necessary, there should be no chatting behind the
thrones. This is particularly important during presentations, awards, and entertainment.
Work with your court so they recognize signals from you for a beverage or for handing you
an award or presentation that you’re making.

Seating at Feasts
Protocol for who sits where at the head table during a feast isn’t terribly complicated. The
monarchs sit in the middle of the table, with the Queen on the King’s left (just like at court).

● If visiting royalty are present, the King or Prince sits on the Queen’s left and the
 Queen or Princess on the King’s right.
● If no visiting royalty is present, the Crown Prince sits on the Queen’s left and the
Crown Princess on the King’s right.
● If there is no Crown Prince and/or Princess, the hosting Baron sits on the Queen’s
left and the hosting Baroness on the King’s right.
● Any remaining guests should be seated in descending order of precedence.
● If you have guests (including visiting royalty) who are uncomfortable about being
split up, you can seat them together, highest ranking next to the King.
● If any of the guests at the head table require an interpreter, that person should be
seated next to them.

Interacting with Other Royalty

In the SCA all Kingdoms are equal; therefore, all the reigning Royalty is equal. You should
show respect and honor by standing, offering a handshake or other courteous greeting but
should not display subservient behavior such as a bow. (This is also true when the King and
Queen greet each other.) You may, if you choose, use the Elizabethan greeting of “cousin”
to fellow monarchs. You might also refer to other Queens as “sister” (implying the Order of
the Rose connection), as the King may refer to other Kings as “brother,” “sword-brother,” or
“brother-in-arms.” Do some research about terms that a monarch in the land of your
persona might use.

If foreign Royalty are present during a Caidan Court, they should be seated on the King’s
side. If both kingdoms are conducting their own court business (such as at a War) they
should be seated side by side. Usually the host kingdom Crown sits in the center and is
flanked by the other Crowns. Typically the other principal Crowns are seating close to the
hosting Crown in order of host(s) and then guest.

Remember that kingdom traditions vary regarding seating arrangements: in some kingdoms
the Queen sits on the left (as you face the thrones). If you are responsible for setting up a
court with visiting Royalty, consult with the Crescent Herald regarding proper arrangements
and protocol.

Prince/Princess Royale
The monarchs’ children may be designated as Prince or Princess Royale. The appropriate
honorific for a Prince/ess Royale is Highness (as opposed to Royal Highness, which is used
for the Crown Prince/ess). There is a coronet--a circlet with four crescents--that can be
worn but probably only by older children who will be able to take better care of it.

You should include information about the children along with your likes/dislikes on the
Royalty website. Don’t hesitate to be clear about things, such as no candy or checking with
you before bestowing certain kinds of gifts, and in particular whether they have any
allergies. You also want to be very clear about photos, and whether or not people have your
approval to post them and where. (It’s also a nice touch to send a thank-you note from your
child/children for gifts they receive.)

You’ll want to include at least one person on your court who is responsible for childcare. Do
not assume that all of your court and guards are fond of children or are there to take care of
them for you.
RETINUE
Your Court is responsible for ensuring the personal comfort of the Crown. This includes
providing food or beverages, reminding Their Majesties of schedule commitments, and
creating and maintaining the “Sanctum Regni” (the area around the thrones). They will do a
myriad of task silently and efficiently so that you are able to do your job as Queen.

Your retinue consists of the members of your court. They will form the core support staff for
you during your reign, so it’s important that you choose people you can work with, who can
work well with each other, and who will maintain your confidence at all times.

Chamberlain
The Chamberlain supervises and supports the administrative aspects of court business.
This includes insuring that award medallions, award cords, and certificates are stocked and
available. The Chamberlain also interacts with the heralds to arrange the order of
business. The Chamberlain may also be called upon to research summaries of award
recipients for TRM comments during award ceremony. S/He should contact event stewards
and local nobility prior to events to confirm pavilion space, people sitting with TRM during
court(s), etc.
The Chamberlain is also the primary liaison with out-of-kingdom nobility and royalty for
inter-kingdom events. Ideally, s/he needs to be available from the time you become heirs
through the reign until your heirs have been crowned. Above all, your Chamberlain needs
to be a Very Very Organized person who will help you be organized as well!
It’s important that you choose someone whose discretion you trust completely, and who is
not going to assume “power” over others simply because s/he is the person closest to the
Crown.

Advisors
Regardless of your activity level before winning the Crown, no one can know everything
going on in the kingdom, and no one can think of all the implications or concerns to be
considered prior to a decision or action. Monarchs call into their service people who have
by their long experience and discretion proved themselves to be sources of good advice
and counsel. Discretion and SCA experience are required for this position. Advisors may be
peers (including Royal peers), former Chamberlains and/or courtiers, and/or close personal
friends. Advisors should remember that the Crown has asked for their advice, not their
orders. Relevant advice requires knowledge of a situation, so your advisors must be people
whose discretion you trust implicitly and completely. They must also be people who know
the difference between giving advice (a good thing) and speaking for you (potentially a
bad thing).

Companions
If you so choose, you may appoint close friends of any rank who are there to give you
moral support throughout the reign. They are the modern equivalent of BFFs (and may
very well be so in real life). They will be entrusted with information that requires them to
be the most discreet of all your courtiers.
Chief Lady/Lord in Waiting
In additional to all of the duties listed for Ladies or Lords-in-Waiting (aka “courtiers,”) the
Chief Lady or Lord-in-Waiting (CiLW) is responsible for the administrative tasks related to
organizing the Court and their duties, and interacting with the Chamberlain. The CLiW sees
to the Crown’s personal comfort, and assist whenever possible by organizing and/or
providing food, water, or attendance for privy breaks. The CLiW schedules courtiers to
provide service and attendance, and may arrange setting and service of head tables during
banquets.
About privy breaks: It may sound funny but when you’re Queen, you want to be sure you
always take at least one attendant (and maybe a member of the Guard too) with you
when you go to the privy. Some people see an unattended Queen as an opportunity to
chat “in private” when in fact you have more pressing needs at hand. More than one
former Queen can regale you with horror stories of being interrupted during a bathroom
break or shower and unable to get away from the situation politely.

Senior Lady/Lord in Waiting

In much the same way as the Lieutenants for Guards, these individuals are familiar
enough with the workings of the Court that they can step in at events to organize the
Courtiers when the Chief Lord/or Lady cannot attend. This person can also be considered
the CLiW’s deputy, in the event that s/he is unable to attend you.

Lady/Lord in Waiting
These are members of the populace you invite into your service during the reign. They
may be given any number of tasks: cupbearers, assistants, logistics (packing, unloading,
setting up, tearing down, etc.). If you’ve ever served on a royal court, you know how
many little things need doing during the day that you can’t do for yourself when you’re
Queen.

Largesse Coordinator
For many years, the Queen and her court pretty much handled making items to be given as
gifts both at Caidan events and to other monarchs at wars, etc. Almost 20 years ago, this
trend changed as more and more gifts began to be exchanged. The individual designated in
this role keeps track of largesse commissioned and received both as promised and as gifts,
to whom the largesse is to be given, and preparing thank you’s for items received. The
coordinator doesn’t need to make largesse him/herself but should be extremely
well-organized and able to keep track of everything needed and dispensed.

When you have heirs, you’ll want to be sure that they have largesse to distribute as needed.
When you step down, whatever is in the collection should be passed on to your heirs to help
bolster the supply. Unless clearly specified, largesse should NOT be considered as gifts for
your court; that’s YOUR responsibility, not the Kingdom’s!

Garb Coordinator
Even if you’re used to making your own garb, you probably won’t have time during your
reign, so you’ll want to have a person on your court who helps coordinate that for you.
People will offer to sew so the garb coordinator keeps track of measurements for both
monarchs (and children, if appropriate); fabrics donated or purchased; what is to be made,
by whom, and for which event. The coordinator also schedules fittings and stays in touch
with those who are sewing to be sure that production is going according to schedule. Do not
assume that all offers of garb are being done gratis; it’s courteous to compensate costumers
for the fabric and their time.

Court Scribe
Appoint someone on your court who will work with the Scribe Armarius to be sure that
scrolls, certificates, and special documents are prepared as as needed, including completed
scrolls for peerages. Your Court Scribe should be a particularly discreet person with good
calligraphy skills. The Court Scribe is responsible for taking care of the box of award
certificates that the previous court scribe should pass on. There should be copies of all of
the necessary certificates in the box. You should provide the Scribe with the names and
awards that you plan on giving at an event as far ahead as possible; at least a week allows
time to calligraph the certificates and make sure they will arrive on site. If you have trouble
finding an appropriate scribe or team of scribes, contact the Scribe Armarius for assistance.
If there is a desire for unique award certificate designs, tell the Court Scribe as soon as
possible so that they can arrange to produce new designs before the reign starts. (​ Added
7/21/15, from Dame Richenda Elizabeth Coffin, Scribe Armarius)

Pets
If you bring your pet(s) with you to events with you, be sure you appoint someone willing
to serve on your court in this capacity. While it’s your responsibility to insure that all
registration and vaccination paperwork is current and present, along with food, water
bowls, leashes, toys, etc., this person will be able to help with feeding, walking, and
cleaning up. (It’s ok to include information about your pet’s likes and dislikes on your web
page, especially to insure that well-meaning people don’t indulge your fur children with
table scraps or other things they aren’t supposed to ingest.)

Royal (Queen’s) Guard

The Royal Guard provides protection for Their Majesties, the Thrones, and the regalia, in
particular, the Crowns. It is the duty of the Royal Guard to set up and break down the
Royal Pavilion and campsite, to ensure privacy during Their Majesties' confidential
meetings, to unload and pack the Royal trailer and to bear the Queen’s favor with honor.
The Royal Guard is frequently called the Queen's Guard. Members of the Guard, including
the Captain, may include fighters from all the martial disciplines, and may be male or
female.

Captain of the Guard

In addition to all of the duties listed for members of the Royal Guard, the Captain of the
Guard is responsible for the administrative tasks related to organizing the Guard and their
duties. The Captain is also responsible, either directly or through approved delegation, for
hauling and storing the Royal Trailer.
The vehicle that hauls the trailer needs to be at least a full-sized 8-cylinder truck, and the
driver(s) need to have the appropriate vehicle and property insurance. (Note: Kingdom
swords, crowns, etc, are NEVER stored in the trailer.)
Compensation for hauling the trailer should be reviewed in advance with the Kingdom
Exchequer. The Trailer needs to be at every event early so that the Royal Pavilion,
Thrones, etc. can be set up in a timely manner.
The Captain is responsible for maintaining a contact spreadsheet of Guard members as well
as some form of online communication (elist or closed FB group). In addition, the Captain
is responsible for coordinating schedules to insure that Guards are always present at
events and have been assigned their tasks.

Lieutenant Guards
In addition to performing the duties listed for members of the Guard, the Lieutenant
Guards should take a leadership role. They may be asked to assist the Captain with
administrative or organizational tasks. These individuals are familiar enough with the
workings of the Guard that they can step in at events to organize the guards and the
workings of the royal pavilion and campsite when the Captain of the Guard cannot attend.

Guard Duties
It is an honor to serve on the Royal Guard, but it is also a job. The major duties of the
Royal Guard include:
Set-up and Tear-down
These are the busiest parts of an event for the Royal Guard. Unless given a different task
or injured/incapacitated, all members of the Guard present should help with set-up and/or
tear-down. Hopefully this won’t happen, but keep an eye out for members of the Guard
who may always be “too busy” to do the hard work but are always available for the
high-profile tasks.

Guard members are responsible for checking in with the Captain or designated
representative the day of the event, and notifying the Captain if they are unable to attend.
As Queen, be sure you explain that while you appreciate their service, illness and/or
modern-world obligations take precedence.

Attending the Crown

In General
Explain to the members of your Guard (and ask the Captain to help with this):
● Be discrete. Members of the Guard should assume that everything they hear while
serving as guards is confidential unless specifically told otherwise. Part of their duty
as a guard is to keep everything they hear while on duty to themselves. Guard
members should be encouraged to ask the Captain or the Queen if they have any
questions about a situation.
● Always offer to carry any large or heavy burden for Their Majesties and Their Court,
as well as anyone they see struggling with items. In particular, members of the
Guard should assist ladies and children.
● Look their best. Cover any modern gear that is part of their fighting kit. If they have
just come off the field, they should take a moment to tidy up before attending Their
Majesties.

During Court

The Captain of the Guard should insure that members of the Guard:
 ● Pay attention to the business being conducted and don’t not carry on side
conversations and goof off behind the thrones, especially at outdoor events.
● When stationed at the end of the aisle, offer to escort any unescorted ladies called
into court (regardless of whether guard members themself are male or female).
● When the Guard makes a presentation to Her Majesty, they should arrange
themselves in rows of two behind the Captain. As they march in, each pair should
bow bow after the pair in front has completed their bow and moved to the right or
left to stand or kneel. When they march out after the presentation, they should turn
at the end of the aisle and bow to thrones.

On Progress

Likewise, the Captain of the Guard should insure that members of the Guard:
● Pay attention! Nothing looks worse than when Their Majesties move on and Their
Guard doesn't notice!
● Step back out of earshot when Their Majesties are conducting confidential business
and politely prevent members of the populace from approaching Them until Their
business is concluded. Guard members should not consider themselves police and
should never behave in a rude or threatening manner.

Fighting at Tournaments
If Guard members plan to fight at a given event, they should let the Captain in advance, if
possible, and check in throughout the day to indicate availability for assignment. They
should always wear their Guard favor on the field, in addition to any personal favors they
carry. In addition to saluting the one whose favor they bear, they should always salute the
Queen before the combat.

Fighting at Wars

Even if Guard members are part of a regional or personal levee, they should also learn to
function as a fighting unit at wars and melee events under the direction of the Captain
and/or Lieutenants. This includes Rapier and Archery units.
CORONATION DAY
Your Procession
● The Crown Prince’s sword bearer (and/or yours if you are a fighter or if you are the
one who won the lists) – this sword is required in the ceremony
● Banners of the Crown Prince and Crown Princes (if you’re using them)
● Musicians and/or singers
● Your Personal banners
● Your personal shield(s)
● The Crown Prince and Princess coronets carried each on a pillow
● Miscellaneous “extras”: Cupbearer, spearmen, someone casting largesse, etc.
● Members of your court, with the lowest-ranking people marching first
● Depending on the age of your children, they should either march with a courtier, or
perhaps as a shield or cupbearer
● You and the Crown Prince

Basic Order of Coronation Ceremony

● Gauntlet – Earl Marshal’s challenge
● Great Sword of State – ascending King and Queen swear fealty
● Cloaks – placed on ascending King and Queen
● Crowns
● Great Sword of State – give to you and returned to Seneschal
● Yellow Rose – given to the Queen by the A&S minister
● King’s personal sword – given to the Kingdom Earl Marshal
● Symbol of Royal Treasury – given by and returned to the Kingdom Exchequer
● Scepters – given to you both by the Seneschal and Crescent Herald
● Oath of Fealty from the Great Officers; you give fealty tokens
● Landed Baronage - you give fealty tokens
● Laurels & Pelicans Charters – given by and returned to the Order secretaries; you
give fealty tokens to each peer who comes forward to swear fealty at all events
during your reign
● Your Chief Lady-in-Waiting, Chamberlain, and Captain of the Guard are called into
service; tokens and favors given
● Sword and Tabard of the King’s Champion is given and a yellow rose (or other token)
given to the consort
● Court and Guard are called into service; favors are given
● Additional tokens as thank-yous for various services
● If new royal peers are being made, you will give the new Countess or Duchess a
yellow rose for new Countess/Duchess
● Awards
There is usually a break between the final business of the outgoing monarchs and the
business conducted prior to the start of the Coronation ceremony. Use this time for your
Chamberlain to arrange to get the items you’ll need set up in the throne area including:
● At least one empty vase for flowers
● 3x5 cards or notebook to record largesse and presentations received
● The Largesse, favors, and fealty tokens you’re giving
● Goblets and beverages for you, plus cloth napkins AND tissues.

All of these items should be arranged well in advance, and set up calmly the morning of
Coronation, with minimal drama or displacement of the outgoing monarchs.
CHECKLISTS
As soon after winning Crown Tourney as possible (the sooner, the better):
● Select your Chamberlain, Chief Lady-in-Waiting, and Captain of the Guard and
extend an invitation to them to be on your Court. Of these three, the most crucial is
Chamberlain.

● Work with the Captain of the Guard to draft a list of potential Guard members and
what positions to offer them. You may also wish to consult members of the Chivalry
and the Baronage for Guard recommendations. Get addresses (surface mail or
email, whichever you prefer) and prepare your invitation. Don’t hesitate to include
members from Western Seas even if they may not be able to attend an event on the
mainland; they are, after all, part of the Kingdom regardless.

● Work with the Chamberlain (and Chief Lady-in-Waiting, if you have someone
already identified to serve in this position) to draft a list of potential courtiers.
Consult with the Baronage to obtain recommendations. Be that those people are not
already immersed in service to their Barony. There are lots of worthy people in the
Kingdom so there’s no need to limit invitations to those who are already in positions
of responsibility. Get addresses (surface mail or email, whichever you prefer) and
prepare your invitation. Invitations to the Guard and Court should come from you
rather than the Chamberlain, although you may ask the Chamberlain to follow up
with people if you don’t hear back in a timely manner.

● Likewise, figure out who you’d like to be your Garb Coordinator, personal Herald,
Largesse Coordinator, Court Scribe, Advisors, and Companions, and whatever other
positions are needed.

● Work with your Chamberlain, Chief Lady-in-Waiting, and Captain of the Guard to
determine who will hold which positions and be responsible for which task(s). Then
customize the invitations to include specific details.

Favors & Tokens

You’ll need to produce a large number of favors prior to Coronation, including those for
the Guard, as well as the Court and Retinue, so you want to get the design for those
finished and production started.
You also need to plan what you and HRM will be giving as fealty tokens and progress
tokens. Consult with the Kingdom Exchequer to see what costs are reimbursed vs. what
you’ll have to expend from your own funds.

Wish List & Preferences

As you can see from ​ the Caid Royals website page​
, the Kingdom website provides a page
for the monarchs and heirs on which they can list various preferences, likes, dislikes, and
in particular allergies. Your Chamberlain should coordinate with the Kingdom Webwright to
insure that this information is made available soon after Crown Tourney, and is
maintained throughout the reign.
You will also want to establish a “progress” which is a list of events that you plan to
attend. Again, your Chamberlain should work with the Kingdom Webwright to insure that
information is kept current. <http://royals.sca-caid.org/75/progress.php>
Also provide the Kingdom Webwright with photos, photo releases, and contact information
for your retinue <http://royals.sca-caid.org/75/contacts.php>

Online Communication
You and your Chamberlain should work together to set up a contact list that includes SCA
and modern names, surface mail addresses, phone numbers, email and Facebook contacts.
You may wish to establish a closed Yahoo group or Facebook group. Be aware that even
though the group may be set to private, there are always ways to gain unauthorized
access, so it’s advisable not to post anything that is confidential or which might be harmful
to you, your family, and/or the Kingdom if it were to be made public.
The Compendium Caidis (aka the wiki) is a fantastic resource for past, present, and future
information. You may wish to designate someone on your court to be responsible for
working with the Editor-in-Chief to maintain info on the wiki that relates to your reign, or
you may ask the Editor to appoint someone on the wiki team to assist you.
If you haven’t already done so, take some time to peruse the wiki. The list of your
predecessors is a great place to start: C
​ompendium Caidis - Royals​
, as is ​
Compendium
Caidis - Caid

Coronation
Six to eight weeks prior (immediately after Crown tourney)
After you have confirmed the core of your team, the following things should be addressed:

● Design and arrange for embroidery of court/guard favors

● Arrange for fealty tokens to be made.
● Arrange for Queen’s Progress tokens to be made.
● Arrange for your measurements to be taken and garb to be made for new Coronation
or Queen’s Champion clothes. You have several options regarding garb for
Coronation:
● Clothes in your persona’s period
● Blue and white for Caid
● A “theme” (with the understanding that beginning in 2016, Winter Coronation will
occur at 12th Night, so the theme may already have been set. Your Chamberlain
should work with the event stewards)
● If a feast is planned, your Chamberlain should work with the event stewards regarding
seating at the head table, and also let them know about any food allergies you have
● Send invitations to other royalty and nobility whom you wish to invite as special
guests
● Set up time to inspect regalia with the Regalia Officer.
● Arrange as many meetings as needed with outgoing Royals to discuss Kingdom
politics and awards.
● Work with the Ladies of the Rose hostess to determine a convenient time for the
 Princess’s Tea.
● Submit royal contact info, chamberlain contact info, calendar and wish list to Kingdom
Webwright and Kingdom Chronicler
● Contact the Crescent Herald for a copy of Coronation ceremony, to discuss the
ceremony and possible variations.
● Order business cards with your contact information. There are a number of people in
the Kingdom who are happy to assist with graphic design and production of these.
● Even if you already know them personally, have the Chamberlain contact Coronation
and Queen’s Champion event stewards to discuss arrangements
● Find out if Coronation and Queen’s Champion sites are dry (no alcohol at all), damp
(wine and beer), or wet (any and all alcoholic beverages allowed) sites and inform
your court
● Your Chamberlain or Chief Lady-in-Waiting should check on available accommodations
for you for Coronation and Queen’s Champion. Work with them to make
arrangements. Be prepared to cover these costs out of your person funds.
● Clean your house completely; this may be your last chance for a while!
● Make whatever arrangements you need regarding your modern-world jobs. Being
monarchs can and will suck up every available moment of your time. If you have a job
that permits you to work on personal matters, great, but don’t jeopardize your income
if it doesn’t. Being King and Queen is NOT cheap, and there’s no GoFundMe for it!

Five Weeks Prior​:

● Review Coronation ceremony with TRM, especially if there are any changes or
additions; make sure these are delivered to the Crescent and Dolphin Herald.
● Review the Regalia with TRM and the Regalia Officer. This is also a good time for the
Crown Prince to get any of his personal regalia (chain and/or sword) in good order, as
well as armor
● Follow-up on the list of courtiers to be sure people have responded. Once you have a
complete list, prepare and send a welcome letter that explains your goals for the reign
and what will be expected of them
● Work with the person on your court who is handling online communication to be sure
that everyone is able to access the court email list
● Your Chamberlain and Chief Lady-in-Wait should start a schedule of who will be doing
court and feast duty, and what to expect in that part of the Coronation ceremony. Be
sure that your Chamberlain knows who is staying where for that weekend. You are
NOT expected to fund transportation, accommodations, or food for your court or
guard.
● Check on the RSVPs for your invited guests
● Your Chamberlain should be working with the appropriate court people in charge of
your garb, the fealty tokens, and the favors. Be sure they keep you posted on the
actual progress. (Sometimes, well-meaning courtiers don’t understand that “I’ve got it
under control, Your Royal Highness” is actually more stressful than helpful.)
● Arrange with the Chamberlain and event stewards for any special events to take place
at Queen’s Champion
● Decide on how court will feed itself (potluck, each member takes turns, every man for
himself…) and ask the Chamberlain and Chief Lady-in-Waiting to make appropriate
arrangements.

Four Weeks Prior:

 ● Continue adding courtiers to Yahoo group and address book as they accept
● Continue reviewing the list of Courtiers who will attend Coronation and Queen’s
Champion, let them know they will be called up in court.
● Check on garb progress
● Check on fealty tokens
● Check on court/guard favor progress
● Practice ceremonies. Practice. Practice. Practice.
● If you are bestowing any peerages and the candidates are reciting their fealty oaths in
a language other than modern English, ask for a copy of that so that you can at least
become familiar with how it will sound.

Three Weeks Prior​

:
● Continue adding courtiers to Yahoo group and address book as they accept
● Continue list of Courtiers who will attend Coronation and Queen’s Champion, let them
know they will be called up in court.
● Check on garb progress
● Check on fealty tokens
● Check on court/guard favor progress
● Check with the outgoing Majesties to see if their stepping down includes any theatrical
extras (death scenes, mob of actors, elephants, etc.)
● Practice ceremonies – speak louder! speak slowly. Enunciate

Two Weeks prior:

● Continue adding courtiers to Yahoo group and address book as they accept
● Continue list of Courtiers who will attend Coronation and Queen’s Champion, let them
know they will be called up in court.
● Post reminder to the e-list of date and location of Coronation and whether it is a dry
or damp site (seldom is it a wet site)
● Check on garb progress; you should already have had at least one fitting
● Check on fealty tokens
● Check on court/guard favor progress
● If you haven’t done so already, arrange for any Largesse to be given to hosting Baron
and Baroness at Coronation or Queen’s Champion depending on activities for court.
● Review changes to the Coronation ceremony with current Majesties and Heralds.
● Confirm responsibility for the Kingdom Trailer. Most likely keys are passed on
Coronation day.
● Practice ceremonies and addressing populace in an Open Field – speak louder! Look
up and out into the crowd. Don’t be afraid to make eye contact.

One Week Prior:

● Discuss and finalize Coronation Procession
● Arrange for the delivery or pick-up of:
● Court and Guard favors
● fealty tokens
● largesse to be gifted to hosts
● Queen’s Progress tokens (unless it involves baked goods that are being prepared
the day before)
● Arrange for a final fitting on the coronation garb, if it’s not already finished. Do NOT
leave this to the night before the event!!
● Continue adding courtiers to Yahoo group and address book as they accept.
 ● Confirm attendance of courtiers, set a schedule (2 hour increments?), check with
courtiers if they are unable to serve at a particular time.
● Confirm other Royal attendance if any.
● Arrange for the token to be give to the Queen’s Champion’s consort (a yellow rose, if
that’s what you decide to give, or whatever token you’ve selected)
● Practice ceremonies and addressing populace
● Get as much asleep as you can
● Ask the Chamberlain to confirm that parking spaces and a ready room have been
arranged
● Ask the Chamberlain to coordinate with the Scribe Armarius regarding any scrolls that
you will need to sign prior to the start of Court

Day of Coronation:
● Arrive early - you are not expected to attend TRM’s final court but you should be all
ready when it’s time for your part of the show to start
● Check in with your Chamberlain, Chief Lady-in-Waiting, and Guard Captain to get
assistance in unloading the vehicle, getting your items to the ready room, and getting
dressed
● Arrange to sign scrolls, as needed
● Breathe
● Ask your personal Herald to get any updates on the day’s timeline
● Ask someone on your court to keep you updated on what is happening in court
● Eat something. Laugh. Breathe.
● Stay calm no matter what and try to keep your Court from getting wound up. (This is
especially true if you have children who are participating in the ceremony)
● Your Chief Lady-in-Waiting should be checking with all members of your retinue and
court to be sure they are present and ready. Remind members of court that while
their service is appreciated, unless they are doing something in the ready room, they
might want to attend court or move to another part of the hall where their chatting
won’t disturb the court proceedings (or you!)
● Your Chamberlain and the Regalia Officer should do a final check to be sure
everything you need is in order

The last piece of business for the outgoing monarchs is to release their court, at which time
you will probably be assembling QUIETLY at the back of the hall.

Packing it up after your Coronation:

● Before your first court is over, have someone start organizing everything that has
been delivered to the ready room.
● All the Champions’ items, anything that the previous Crown is passing on, stuff from
the trailer that needs to go back.
● All the food can get packed up.
● All the stuff from the previous Court should be gone if you shared a ready room.
● Ask the Regalia Officer if you have any questions about the care and availability of
regalia items.
● You have another complete event tomorrow where you need most of this stuff again…!
Queen’s Champion:

Much of your advance preparation should have occurred while you were getting ready for
Coronation so this is just for the day.
Queen’s Champion Tourney

As Queen, you may restrict who is eligible to fight in your Queen’s Champion Tournament,
although be careful how you handle this. If someone who lives out of Kingdom wants to
fight, be sure that s/he is amenable to sharing the honor with whichever Caidan finishes
closest to the top. You may also restrict the types of weapons used, for instance using
standard tourney weapons rather than those more commonly used in war. (This is also true
for your Queen’s Champion Archery Tournament, or any other of the Champion events.)

If you decide to place restrictions on who may fight at QC it is only fair to let those
restricted know as soon as possible. This should be done personally and announced at
events leading up to QC. If you decide to restrict weapons, that information should be
announced at every possible opportunity thereafter, as well as at opening court at the event
itself.

Arrive when site opens

● Hopefully, your Chamberlain has already made arrangements with the event
steward(s) to reserve parking spaces for your vehicle and the trailer as needed.
● Check in with event steward yourself (usually the event stewards will come to greet
you personally) and be sure to introduce the event steward to your Chamberlain who
will be keeping you updated on any changes to the day’s events.
● Likewise, arrangements for the placement of the Royal Pavilion should have been
made in advance, so that when you and/or your guard arrive, set-up can begin
immediately.
● Work with the Captain of the Guards to set up pavilion and thrones (as you look into
the pavilion the Queen’s Throne is on your right), decorate the inside as needed.
● If you’re going to be late (stuck in traffic, road issues, fussy child) let someone at the
site know, and be sure they tell the event stewards right away.

Pavilion set-up options:

Whether this is the first time or the 100th time you’ve been involved in setting up the Royal
Pavilion, it needs to be set-up without drama, and arranged so that it looks good, is
functional for all the court business, and still serves as your “home away from home” for the
day. The following are items that should be included inside the Pavilion:

● Wooden table of some kind on either side of Thrones (or between thrones) and
covered with a napkin or mesh cover of some kind. The new Big Royal pavilion has a
pole in the center where the Thrones normally would go, so you may want to move
them in front of this pole or behind it.
● Table behind the thrones with the following items on it: Guard favors, fealty tokens,
queen’s progress tokens, largesse to be given, pitcher of water, extra favors.
● Table(s) set up behind from the thrones for largesse received, munchies for court,
feast gear, etc. Be sure to provide cloth napkins and/or mesh covers of some kind to
protect the food from bugs, and keep an eye on where the food is in relation to the
sun.
● As court members arrive, they should check in with the Chamberlain for their
assignments, and once everyone is there (or 30-45 mins. before court), hold a brief
court meeting to be sure everyone knows what they’re supposed to be doing.

Before Court:
● Meet with your Chamberlain as soon as you arrive, review awards information as
needed (often this involves finding out if recipients are actually in attendance), and
 work with the heralds to determine the time for opening court. Because court can’t
start without you, it’s important that you are ready to start at the time stated in the
event notice, unless circumstances beyond your control prevent that from happening.
● Consult with Herald for the day regarding awards, presentations, announcements, etc.
● Apprise the Herald conducting court about time you might need prior to court actually
starting, so a call to court can be given that allows the populace time to get
themselves in place.
● Be sure someone has prepared your presentations; double-check that the right sticky
notes are on the right items, so that court members assisting you hand you the
correct item
● Medallions should be hung on the back of the thrones in the order they are to be
given
● Be sure that someone is taking notes when awards are given, in case the recipient is
not present
● Be sure that people are ready to put presentations you receive in a safe place in the
royal pavilion, and that someone is recording all presentations you receive. If the
person recording the presentations plans to use a tablet, be sure it’s covered with
something that makes it look like a book! There are already enough anachronistic
cameras, so you don’t want to add to the modernity. There’s nothing wrong with
taking notes by hand, the old-fashioned way.
● Make sure there are refreshments at hand for courtiers standing court and TRM (hide
all modern vessels)
● Hopefully one of your courtiers has vases ready for the flowers you will receive. If you
receive something you’re allergic to, ask one of your courtiers to handle the item for
you, with your apologies to the presenter. (One way to avoid some of that is to have
your Chamberlain confer with the event stewards in advance of the event, and review
your likes/dislikes.)

After Court /During the event:

● Queen’s Procession – At some comfortable time during the day send someone to
invite the Ladies of the Rose present and any guests you wish to include (members of
your family, the hosting baroness, etc.) to accompany you on your progress. It’s
helpful to ask a local herald to accompany the procession as well. Be sure that the
tokens you’re giving (usually wrapped candies) are in a basket, and someone will be
holding a parasol for you. (Yes, you’re the Queen but the sun doesn’t care!)
● This is a good time for your Chamberlain to straighten up the royal pavilion and
coordinate the rest of the day’s activities with the guards and courtiers.
● With the help of your Chamberlain, make sure you keep your appointments and meet
your obligations throughout the day. This includes paying attention to the fighting,
especially the children, and the final rounds of your champions’ fights. It’s helpful to
ask your Chamberlain to remind you about these things as long as it’s done quietly
and unobtrusively.
● Your Chamberlain may have to do some ad hoc schedule rearranging on your behalf
(yet another reason for that person to be professional and discreet.) Make sure shifts
are running smoothly
● Make sure all your courtiers have water and the opportunity to eat (and make sure
they understand that if they’re sick, they stay/go home. And if they have to take
medication, they need to take it rather than skipping it. Yes, it’s a lot like taking care
of your children.)
● Be sure your Chamberlain works with your courtiers to insure that the Royal Pavilion
is always neat and organized (this includes packing things that might not be needed
after a certain point.) No one’s personal items should be strewn about, nor should
 food be left out if there’s any chance of it spoiling.
● Make sure your courtiers remain presentable while on duty. On hot days, be sure they
all stay hydrated and take frequent breaks in the shade.
● It often happens that you may need some time to yourself just to regroup. Be aware
of the warning signs and ask your Chamberlain to assist you with going to a quiet
area in the park or on the site and making sure you’re not interrupted. This should be
done quietly and calmly. If you start to feel unwell, take whatever steps are needed to
get help. Shouting “Medic!” should be avoided unless it’s a life-threatening
emergency.

Closing court:
● Make sure you have the Regalia for new Queen’s Champion which was probably given
to you during Coronation. Normally, for Queen’s Champion tourney, you’ll need the
items for Armored, Unarmored, Rapier, and Youth (up to 4 age groups) Champions
which includes a tabard or sash. The Queen’s Champion is entrusted with a sword.
● There should be Queen’s Favors for all. Although you were the fighters’ inspiration
throughout the day, it’s nice to give a small token to the winners’ consorts, or, in the
case of youth combat, a small gift (flowers or cookies) for the winners to share with
their parent(s). NOTE: Be sure that one of your courtiers get names and contact
information for ALL the Champions – they are now part of Court!
● Presentations should have sticky notes on them so that your courtiers hand you the
correct ones, as requested.
● Medallions should be hung on the back of the throne in the order the awards will be
given.
● As with Opening Court, be sure someone keeps track of whether the award recipients
or their representatives were present, and instruct the populace as to whether
bestowal of the award on absent people should be kept a secret.
● Likewise, the Chamberlain should have appointed someone to make notes about
presentations you receive, and someone(s) to make sure the presentations are
organized carefully in the back of pavilion.

After court:
● You and/or your Chamberlain should make sure all non-regalia items are packed
safely and securely in the appropriate vehicle(s).
●
● Make sure TRM’s receive a copy of awards distributed (or update the awards
spreadsheet or file box).
● Make sure copy of list of gifts received is given to person in charge of writing thank
you cards (may be Her Majesty or designee)
● Give copy of awards distributed at the event to herald or person making court report
for the OP.
● Good Rule of Thumb for ALL events: Be sure that SOMEONE besides you has a key to
your car in case yours get locked in the car.

***​Be sure you THANK all of the courtiers and guards who worked
so hard to make the event a success !!!​
***
(In fact, be sure you ALWAYS thank people both publicly and privately.)

Standard Event Day

You will always need to have the following items at every event
 ● Awards box /promissory scrolls
● Recommendation file box
● Progress tokens
● Feast gear
● Court and Guard Favors
● Fealty tokens
● Court and Guard listings for members of each group

Six weeks prior

● Be sure arrangements have been made regarding “housing” for the event (Royal
Pavilion vs. hosting area’s Pavilion for court), and don’t wait until the last minute to
let the event stewards know whether you need space or housing.
● Contact event steward ask if there are any special events/traditions for the day, if
there are other VIPs planning on attending, if there is lunch planned for TRM, if TRM
can invite guests, if the local Barony/Shire will be providing refreshments throughout
the day for TRM and if it is a dry, damp or wet site.
● If there is a feast/revel planned ask if TRM will attend, if yes
● Inform Event steward of TRM’s plans to attend feast
● Get list of guests to be invited to sit at Head Table with TRM, and who is already
expected.

Five weeks prior

● Send invitations to special guests for feast. Be sure you have discussed these
arrangements in advance with the event and feast stewards. Do not arrive expecting
them to accommodate your entire party!
● Arrange for crash space/hotel if needed

Four weeks prior

● Send reminders to Court and Guard about the event and ask them to confirm their
attendance (including time they will attend and if they are fighting) and if it is a dry,
damp, or wet site
● Find out if the hosting group will be providing lunch for TRM, and whether guests are
included in that invitation. Also confer with the event steward regarding special
dietary restrictions and/or preferences.

Two weeks prior

● Get feast menu from event steward and provide a list of people for head table.
● Start setting up a schedule of attendance for the day; remember to rotate courtiers so
that the same people aren’t always in attendance at the same time

One week prior

● Organize largesse gifts to be presented at court
● Start scribe writing awards
● Inventory Medallions, Awards box, make sure they are fully stocked (20 of each
medallion, 20 of each promissory)
● Have the following items organized and ready to go:
○ Awards box
○ Recommendation list and OP
○ Progress tokens
○ Feast gear
○ Court and Guard Favors
 ○ Fealty tokens
○ Court and Guard listings for members of each group
○ Special business for this location or event
Day of
● Arrive when site opens
● Check in with event steward; stay updated on any changes to the day’s events, find
planned location of Pavilion
● After Guards have set up the pavilion arrange tables inside pavilion
● As court members arrive, set up schedule for day, assign first shift to parking lot to
watch for TRM, inform Ladies/Attendants of scheduled shifts
● Meet with TRM as soon as they arrive, get awards information and ETA for opening
court.
● Consult with Herald for the day; give him/her list of awards, presentations,
announcements etc. in the order that TRM’s wish those items to be given.
● Apprise Herald of how long TRM’s need before opening court so that the Herald may
announce time of Opening Court to the Populace – May need to work with the Baron
and Baroness also.
● Prepare Presentations, put sticky notes on each so court members can see which is for
whom.
● Hang medallions in the order they are to be given on the back of the throne
● Write out Awards to be given make notes as to if they were awarded or not.
● Make notes of presentations to TRM, place gifts in one place in the back of pavilion
● Prepare vase for flowers for Her Majesty
● Make sure there are refreshments at hand for courtiers standing court and TRM (hide
all modern vessels)
After Court:
● Make sure TRM are on time for any scheduled events
● Make sure shifts are running smoothly
● Make sure all the courtiers have water and the opportunity to eat
● Make sure the pavilion is clean and organized. Pack as many things as possible as
early as possible
● Make sure courtiers remain presentable while on duty
● Make sure TRM’s are happy and not stressed. If they become tired or stressed make
sure they get “alone time” to relax and unwind
Closing court:
● Prepare Presentations, put sticky notes on each so court members can see which is for
whom.
● Hang medallions in the order they are to be given on the back of the t.hrone
● Write out Awards to be given make notes as to if they were awarded or not.
● Make notes of presentations to TRM, place gifts in one place in the back of pavilion
● Prepare vase for flowers for Her Majesty
● Make sure there is are refreshments at hand for courtiers standing court and TRM
(hide all modern vessels)
After Court:
● Make sure all non-regalia items belonging to TRM are packed safely and securely and
placed in the appropriate vehicle(s)
● Make sure TRM’s receive a copy of awards distributed and gifts received
● Make sure copy of list of gifts received is given to person in charge of writing thank
you cards (may be Her Majesty or designee)
● Give copy of awards distributed at the event to the Keeper of the Order of Precedence
 as back up for the herald to ensure accuracy of the OP.
● Make sure to THANK all of the courtiers and guards who worked so hard to make the
event a success !!!!!

Wars
You will enjoy your time at wars, both local and away, if your royal household is coordinated
and well-organized. If your Chamberlain can’t attend you, be sure that there’s someone
willing and able to serve in that capacity. If the event is occurring outside the U.S. and/or
requires special documents and/or vaccinations, be sure that you and those attending you
have taken care of that. (Remember that you DO need a passport to enter Canada!)

The following tasks can be delegated to your Chamberlain, as you choose.

Six weeks prior

● Verify that TRM will attend and ask about how camp is made up – Royals, Court and
Guard or Royals and their Household(s) with some Court and Guard or….
● Make sure that their pre-registration packet(s) are sent in.
● Post notice to court list, encourage other court members who are attending to
pre-register
● Most wars have a Royal Liaison. Contact them for site info, payment options for
Royals, arrival times, other royalty or peers in attendance, location and size of land
allocated for Royal Camp (there may be a separate land allocation steward), if there
are any special events/traditions for the war, if there is a feast/revel planned for TRM,
find out date and time, how many are expected to be served.
● Get list of guests to be invited to feast with TRM and who will sit at Head Table with
TRM
● Are the ​ Crown Prints​ articles written yet? If the Chamberlain or a courtier is drafting
these for you, be sure you see the final text before it’s submitted for publication.

Five weeks prior

● Discuss with TRM who will be camping with them and extend invitations as needed.
● Begin arrangements for fighting scenarios, feasts, parties, and courts, get schedule of
classes and other special events.
● Inform TRM about any invitations sent to you from other groups to attend their
parties, or other events.
● Work with the Crescent Herald and secretary of the Order (Knight, Pelican, Laurel)
regarding any vigils and/or elevations. If you are traveling to another Kingdom, find
out whether vigils and/or elevations are planned and consider providing some token of
esteem.

Four weeks prior

● Arrange for kitchen facilities and/or specific household to provide meals for TRM. This
will vary depending on where the war is, whether the hosting area is providing meals,
etc. Be sure that everyone involved in food preparation knows about food preference
and allergies, and follow safe food handling procedures (which includes NOT prepping
food if one is sick!)
● If kitchen will be in camp, delegate food prep, meal planning, etc. Make sure kitchen
is large enough to accommodate all who are in the camp, or that the camp has
enough room to accommodate multiple kitchens.
Three weeks prior
Work with TRM on arrangements for fighting scenarios, feasts, parties, courts, gifts, etc. If
TRM plan to attend any classes, let instructors know in advance.

Two weeks prior

● Finalize (as much as possible) schedule of events and who will attend where.
● Confirm what will be carried in the Royal Trailer and what will be carried by you, TRM
or other trusted members of court.
● Work with the Chamberlain regarding campsite layout, which includes a SECURE area
is set up for the stuff (mundane and royal) that is left in camp while you are gone.
There are a lot of people (known and unknown) in the royal camp. Also be sure that a
preliminary schedule of duty has been prepared and confirmed as much as possible.

One week prior

● As needed, work with the Captain of the Guard on packing the trailer. NOTE: The
trailer must be in a secure area at all times, whether at events or not, and no
valuable Regalia should be packed in there.
● Inventory Medallions, Awards box, make sure they are fully stocked (20 of each
medallion, 20 of each promissory)
● If travel to the event requires several days’ travel, be sure that all vehicles are
travel-ready (oil, tires, etc.), all registrations are current, all drivers are licensed.
Make sure that everyone has a first aid kit in their vehicle.
● Verify all travel arrangements, including who is picking up TRM from the airport, as
needed.
● Let the event steward and royal liaison known when TRM are arriving/have arrived.

Opening Day of the Event

● If at all possible, TRM should arrive at the event early. If they can’t do that, be sure
that the Chamberlain and/or Captain of the Guard can, so that set-up is coordinated
and as stress-free as possible.
● Let the event steward and royal liaison known when TRM are on site.
● Set up Royal Pavilion per TRM wishes. Ask the event steward for assistance, as
needed. Ideally everything should already be set up at least the day before the actual
event begins.
● Post the work duty schedule and sign-in sheet where everyone on the court can see it.
● Call a court meeting early in the morning, and verify assignments. Remember that
TRM should be attended at all times.

In General
● Make sure everyone stays hydrated and healthy.
● Keep breathing as the surprises and schedule changes start
● Clean as you go; it will make packing easier
● If you don’t need it again, pack it up
● Treat each day/event as a tourney and go through that list of needs.
● Its WAR, have fun!

Crown Tournament
Getting ready for Crown Tourney is a multi-stage process, but it doesn’t have to be
overwhelming if you follow the guidelines below:
Before Crown Tourney
Six weeks prior
● Be sure arrangements for lunch have been confirmed with the event steward,
including whether the site is dry.
● Review Kingdom Law regarding Crown Tournament and decide if there are any law
changes that could affect the event or the people who will fight in the tournament.
● Tradition has a token or some kind given to those in the lists this day during/at
invocation or at the time fighters and consorts are presented. Determine what these
might be and being working on them.
● Have you written your article for the ​
Crown Prints​yet??

Five weeks prior

● Your or Your Chamberlain should contact the Crescent Herald about Ceremonies for
the day, and be sure you have copies of everything you’ll need. (Consider maintaining
a binder of ceremonies so that you can memorize them when you’re traveling to
events

Four weeks prior

● If detailed information about the site (including directions, local hotels and
restaurants) isn’t available in the ​
Crown Prints​
or on Facebook, ask your Chamberlain
to contact the event steward. Be sure everyone on your court who is attending has
that information.
● Your or your Chamberlain should send a reminder (email, Yahoogroup, FB) to Court
and Guard about event, ask them to confirm their attendance (including time they
will arrive and if they are fighting).
● Find out if the local group is hosting the Crown for lunch, and what the menu is.
While the Crown is usually comped for meals, feel free to pay anyhow as a donation
to the area’s coffers. Be sure that you or your Chamberlain explain about any food
allergies.
● If this hasn’t happened already, insure that your Garb Coordinator has started
working on your stepping down attire.

Three weeks prior

Discuss with your Chamberlain, CLiW and Captain of the Guard about candidates to “loan”
to incoming Royalty until they have a court, then ask those people if they are willing to
provide that service. If the victors have reigned before, odds are that they already have a
retinue.

Two weeks prior

● Check on progress of fighter treats and consort tokens.
● Coordinate with the Chamberlain about refreshments for the Ladies of the Rose during
the wreath-making activities. Sometimes a local area may asked to showcase culinary
efforts of its populace by contributing to the refreshments. Also check with the Ladies
of the Rose (via the FB group) about flowers and rosemary, who is bringing it, how
much it will cost, etc.

One week prior

● Work with your Chamberlain, the Regalia Officer, the Ladies of the Rose and Kingdom
Seneschal to provide/update information packets with the for incoming Prince and
Princess, and their Chamberlain. This includes this booklet, information about Privy
Council information (day after Crown Tourney to introduce incoming Royalty to Great
 Officers of State), and Coronation. Be ready to provide the new Princess and
Chamberlain with this information on a CD.
● Your Chamberlain, working with the Regalia Officer, should inventory the awards to
insure there’s a full stock of medallions and cords. Also check with the Scribe Armarius
about the status of award documents.

Crown Tourney Day

Before Opening Court

You and members of the Court should arrive when site opens. The following tasks may be
delegated to your Chamberlain:

● Check in with event steward and be sure that the Captain of the Guard knows where
the Royal Pavilion is to be set up (unless that’s already been done).
● Work with the Captain of the Guard and courtiers to arrange the pavilion interior.
● As court members arrive, set up schedule for day, assign first shift to parking lot to
watch for TRM, inform Ladies/Attendants of scheduled shifts
● Meet with TRM as soon as they arrive, get awards information and ETA for opening
court.
● Consult with the Crescent Herald and staff regarding the order of awards,
presentations, and announcements. (This may be a task you prefer to do yourself.)
● Apprise the Herald about how long TRMs need before opening court so that calls to
court may be issued to the populace.
● Prepare the presentations, including sticky notes on each so court members can see
which is for whom.
● Be sure the medallions are hung on the back of the throne in the order they are to
be given.
● Appoint someone to keep track of which awards were given vs. those that might
have been deferred because the recipient wasn’t present.
● Appoint someone to keep track of presentations to the Crown, and someone else to
coordinate placement of the items in the back of the royal pavilion.
● Your Chamberlain should also insure that there are plenty of empty vases and some
water for the flowers you receive.
● Make sure there are refreshments at hand for courtiers standing court and TRM, and
that everyone has eaten, hydrated and taken any necessary medications.
● Hide as much modern stuff (cans, bottles, phones, gear) as possible. Remember that
the area of the Royal Pavilion is always a “photo op” whether it’s occupied or not.

After Opening Court

● Make sure shifts are running smoothly
● Make sure all the courtiers have water and the opportunity to eat
● Make sure the pavilion is clean and organized. Pack as many things as possible as
early as possible
● Make sure courtiers remain presentable while on duty
● Make sure TRM’s are happy and not stressed. If they become tired or stressed make
sure they get “alone time” to relax and unwind.

Invocation to the Lists

This is among the ceremonies maintained by the Crescent and other heralds. You should be
familiar with this ceremony and feel free to add anything you feel is appropriate. Fighters
come forward with their consorts, so be sure there is enough room in the Royal Pavilion to
accommodate everyone, if at all possible.

Unbelted Challenges
Combatants for the list line up, belted fighters and consorts, facing unbelted and consorts.
The belted side should be standing in Order of Precedence, they can normally figure this out
themselves and the Heralds will help. You may choose unbelted fighters to cross over to the
belted side to even up the two groups.

Presentation of Consorts
After the unbelted fighters challenge the belted side, they present themselves to the Crown,
with consort, as a group of four. This is when you bestow a token to the fighters and/or
consorts, and offer personal words of encouragement.

Crown Lists
His Majesty often stands on the fighting field with the Knights, watching the fighting or
marshaling, especially during final rounds
● Prepare the business for closing court as much in advance as you can. Use the breaks
between rounds because you and the King will be focused on the fighting, especially
the final rounds.
● The Ladies of the Rose will gather at some point of the day in the Royal Pavilion to
make the rose and rosemary wreaths that will crown the new Prince and Princess. A
limited staff will need to be in the pavilion and guards will be needed. Refreshments
should be arranged in advance of the events. Do not be offended if a Lady of the Rose
can’t attend; she may have pressing business elsewhere--like helping her consort
during the day.
● Members of the court may be sent to invite the consorts and Ladies of the Rose to
attend Her Majesty. This should be handled very diplomatically.
● For the final round, you sit on the throne, which is placed at the edge of the filed, with
the finalists’ consorts on either side of you, and the Ladies of the Rose in attendance.
If one of the consorts is unable to be present a chair is brought with flowers placed in
her stead.
● The winners will be mobbed, both by their friends and those wishing to curry favor
early. Make sure “loaner” courtiers are right there for the winner and consort, if
needed.
● If the winner of the tourney does not have a support person (household member,
courtier, or personal friend familiar with the routine), provide a member of your court
to insure that the wreaths fit comfortably and a herald to arrange processions with the
victor. Be sure to introduce the courtiers to the new Prince and Princess so that it
doesn’t seem as though strangers have been sent to take over the preparations. The
winner may already be a Royal Peer or a member of a household accustomed to
serving the Crown, in which case they will know the routine.

Closing court
● Prince/Princess Banners – These should be held or hung behind the winner of the List
and the Consort.
● Prepare Presentations, put sticky notes on each so court members can see which is for
whom.
● Hang medallions in the order they are to be given on the back of the throne
● Write out Awards to be given make notes as to if they were awarded or not.
● Make notes of presentations to TRM, place gifts in one place in the back of pavilion
● Prepare vase for flowers for Her Majesty
● Make sure there is are refreshments at hand for courtiers standing court and TRM
 (hide all modern vessels)

After Court
These tasks should be handled by your Chamberlain and designated courtiers:
● Transfer all boxes and storage cases for Coronets and banners.
● Offer assistance and contact information
● Make sure all non-regalia items belonging to TRM are packed safely and securely and
placed in the appropriate vehicle(s)
● Make sure TRM’s receive a copy of awards distributed and gifts received
● Make sure copy of list of gifts received is given to person in charge of writing thank
you cards (may be Her Majesty or designee)
● Give copy of awards distributed at the event to the Keeper of the Order of Precedence
as backup for the herald to ensure accuracy of the OP.
● Make sure to THANK all of the courtiers and guards who worked so hard to make the
event a success

Day of Meetings
Attend the Day of Meetings that follows Crown Tournament if you are able. This will let you
pass on information to the Highnesses and their Chamberlains and be available for
questions that might arise.

Stepping Down/Coronation
Immediately after Crown Tourney
● Contact coronation event steward for location and find out if it is a dry or damp site.
● Keep eye open for invite to Princess Tea, Traditionally given by the “grandmother”
contact Secretary of the Ladies of the Rose for information (this is where the Crown is
tried on so any adjustments can be made)
● Contact incoming chamberlain to set up time to inspect regalia, offer advice and
counsel.
● Arrange meeting with outgoing Royals to discuss Kingdom politics and awards that
TRM may wish to give but may not be appropriate for them to give (can be given at
Queen’s Champion)
● Contact Crescent Herald for copy of Coronation ceremony
● Check on hotel/crash space availability-make appropriate arrangements
● Contact various Champions to check on condition of their regalia, check against list of
regalia rec’d at beginning of reign.
● Have TRM decide on Signum Rex Signum Regina, Signia Regia and find the artisans to
work on them.
● Check on stepping down garb
● Discuss guest list for stepping down, send invites
● Post reminder to list about the site, attendance, new garb, court gift
● Is the ​
Crown Prints​ article written yet?

Five Weeks Before Coronation

● Review the Coronation ceremony with the Crescent Herald and TRH to see if there are
any changes or additions and that it has continuity with the changes in the ceremony
from beginning of reign; make sure these are delivered to the Crescent and Dolphin
Herald. Have them review with incoming royals about and “stick” that needs to be
added.
● Contact the Regalia Officer and confirm what you have borrowed from regalia for the
 reign, set up time to return.
● Review list of courtiers and make award recommendations
● Confirm with Coronation event stewards if refreshments will be provided for TRM

Four weeks prior

● Make hotel reservations/arrange for crash space
● Check on garb
● Check on tokens
● Post info on yahoo list
● Start schedule of courtiers who will attend at court

Three weeks prior

Work with your Chamberlain, the Crescent Herald and the Scribe Armarius regarding awards
to be given, including the status of scrolls and ceremonies.

Two weeks prior

● Check on award inventory including medallions, the Signi, and any personal gifts you
are giving to your court.
● Continue to maintain correspondence with the Scribe Armarius regarding scrolls.

One week prior

● Discuss and finalize your Stepping Down Procession
● Confirm with Court and Guard as to who is attending the event. Make sure your
Chamberlain has set up the attendance schedule for Closing and Coronation court.
● Verify with your Chamberlain that all regalia repairs and cleaning are complete or will
be complete by Coronation, and that receipts for any work have been or will be
verified and given to the Regalia Officer.
● Your Chamberlain should double-check the inventory of awards to be sure they are
fully stocked (20 of each medallion, 20 of each award certificate)
● Your Chamberlain should also confirm a parking spot for you and a ready room.
● Arrange for a final fitting on your garb (even if you’re the one making it). Insofar as
it’s possible, your garb should be completed at least one week before the event.
● Take some time with work with your consort on your final words for the populace. This
is something that should come from the heart. It’s difficult to sum up the experience
of being monarchs in just a few words, so don’t be embarrassed to ask for help.
However, because it’s personal, what you’re going to say to yourselves until the
moment you say it.

Day of the Event

● Arrive early, in good spirits and good health.
● Let your Chamberlain and Captain of the Guard know when you’re arrived (they’ve
probably got lookouts posted and people ready to help you carry items to the ready
room.)
● Breathe. Be sure that you have eaten, had something to drink, and taken any
medication you need.
● Your Chamberlain should let the Crescent Herald know that you’ve arrived so that you
can all confer on the morning’s schedule.
● Let your Chamberlain handle getting your garb ready, arranging for snacks, and
making sure the Regalia is ready. Your time at this point is best spent having a few
minutes in private with TRH.
● Your Chamberlain should meet with the incoming Chamberlain and Regalia Officer to
 do a quick inventory and make sure all is in order.
● Ask your Chamberlain to call a court meeting and review the attendance schedule.
You will release everyone from service as part of the ceremony, but one or three will
still be needed to escort you as you depart from the dais.
● After that, have a final personal moment with your court and guard. If you prefer, this
is a good time to give out personal gifts rather than during court.

During the Break

● Under the Chamberlain’s direction, all largesse and personal items should be taken
from behind the thrones to the ready room.
● Your Chamberlain should insure that champions’ regalia has been accounted for and is
ready to transfer to new chamberlain
● Consider providing lunch in the ready room for your court and guard, as a thank-you.
● Be sure that all personal items have been accounted for, packed up, and locked in
your vehicle (or stashed in a corner of the ready room, if you don’t feel comfortable
putting things in the car.)
● If this hasn’t already been done, your Chamberlain should coordinate handing over
regalia to the Regalia Officer, and your Captain of the Guard should arrange for turn
over the trailer to his/her successor, including all relevant paperwork (registrations,
maintenance records, etc.)
● Take a Deep Breath. You did it! (Don’t be surprised if you feel weepy, light-headed
AND relieved.)

Previous version: Princess’s Handbook

http://rose.sca-caid.org/handbooks.php​
- Information in the previous version has been
incorporated into this document.

Previous version: Chamberlain's Handbook

http://rose.sca-caid.org/handbooks.php ​
- Information in the previous version has been
incorporated into this document.

Notes
Notes that still need to be organized into the main handbook:

● Attending out-of-kingdom wars, especially Pennsic and Gulf Wars

● Expanding interactions between the monarchs and heirs
● Explain what the awards database is and how to work with the Crescent Herald and
Kingdom Webwright to keep it current
● Work with the Crescent Herald to create a binder with printed copies of all
ceremonies
● Awards: Who provides what, how many are needed, and when to order, including
Signae Regis and Reginae
● Convert gender references for monarchs and heirs to be all-inclusive
CREDITS
The original ​
Princess’s Handbook​
, written by included thoughts and commentary from many
people: Peers--royal and otherwise, non-peers, and members of previous courts. It also
includes excerpts from other handbooks that were begun but never finished, plus handouts
and class notes. Special thanks to Countess Leonora Morgana for her quintessential “file.”

The original ​
Chamberlain's Handbook contributors were Baroness Cara Michelle DuValier,
Lady Eliada Melisande d’Alessandria, Baroness Rebecca Mary Robynson, Sir Philip Williams
of Aston, Lady Anne de Beausoleil, and Baron Cei Myghchaell Wellinton.

Version Updated by Viscountess Lorissa du Griffin and Duchess Natalya de Foix, with
3.0 additions from Dame Richenda Elizabeth Coffin and Mistress Aliskye Rosel
for Scribe Armarius info.

Version Updated by Viscountess Lorissa du Griffin and Duchess Natalya de Foix;

2.0 invited to edit: Duchess Mora de Buchanan, Mistress Ciar ingen ​
Dáire, and
Mistress Aleksina Taisiya Rogvolodovna​ . Dame Richenda Elizabeth Coffin and
Mistress Aliskye Rosel for Scribe Armarius info.

Version Written by Duchess Kolfinna kottr, Mistress Ciar ingen ​

Dáire, and Mistress
1.0 Aleksina Taisiya Rogvolodovna