Banquets and Reception: How Dining Rooms Stage Diplomacy

State banquets are choreography in porcelain and silver. Place cards align with rank; centerpieces narrate national identity and occasion.

Contents

• Table Anatomy
• Seating and Rank
• Service Flow

Table Anatomy

• Chargers precede main and dessert plates.
• Stemware aligns by course and beverage.
• Cutlery is placed from outside inward.

Seating and Rank

• Head of state positions set the axis of attention.
• Alternation by delegation and language smooths conversation.

Service Flow

• Precision pacing keeps speeches and courses in sync.
• Quiet coordination renders logistics invisible.

Diplomacy is elegant logistics — practiced, timed, and gracious.