Letter - Seeking Queen Elizabeth II's Approval for the Kissing Hands Ceremony [1952-03-01]
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Privy Council Office,
Whitehall, S.W.1.
1st March, 1952.
My dear Lascelles,
Yesterday morning The Queen sent for me just before the Council at Clarence House and asked me to tell Her Majesty how the ceremony of kissing hands was performed and I explained the practice to The Queen.
The ceremony is of course entirely for Her Majesty’s Pleasure, but it occurs to me that The Queen might wish to determine what the procedure should be during Her Reign. I therefore make the following suggestions for consideration:—
When the Privy Counsellor (or Minister) who is to kiss hands kneels on the footstool The Queen should proffer Her right hand, palm downwards, with fingers lightly closed, to the person who is to kiss hands. He will extend his right hand, palm upwards, and take The Queen’s hand lightly in his and kiss it. His lips should no more than just touch Her Majesty’s hand.
Perhaps you would in due course let me know Her Majesty’s Pleasure so that when in future I rehearse new Privy Counsellors in the ceremonial of a Council I may do all I can to secure that The Queen’s wishes are followed.
Yours sincerely,
(Stmp.) F. J. FERNAU
The Right Honourable
Sir Alan Lascelles, G.C.V.O., K.C.B., C.M.G., M.C.
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