BIRMINGHAM, England—It isn’t just the green lawns, the players’ whites, or the ever-present threat of rain that makes Wimbledon a uniquely British event.
The world’s oldest tennis tournament is one of a number of high-profile social events increasingly catching the eye of international residents and visitors. Interest in classic British social events has been boosted by the hugely popular period TV drama “Downton Abbey” and the 2011 royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, say etiquette coaches. But before navigating the Wimbledon queues and the weather, visitors need to first get a grip on British etiquette.
The art of etiquette is delicate. Even Brits can unwittingly reveal their social standing simply by the way they drink tea: whether they add milk to tea or vice versa, whether they mistake “high tea” for “afternoon tea,” or whether they raise their pinkie when taking a sip (you shouldn’t).
Dating back to 1877, Wimbledon accumulated social prestige because it was folded into the aristocratic “summer season” that includes events such as the Royal Ascot and the Henley Regatta, explains etiquette expert Jo Bryant.
“You would have a whirlwind of parties and events over the summer months, all coinciding with the royal family’s residence at Buckingham Palace over the summer,” Bryant said.
The old rigid social structures have since changed, but those events still carry their social cache. Bryant said that while good etiquette is mostly about putting other people at ease and learning confidence, it still touches on that age-old British obsession—class and class-signaling.
“The Victorians managed to introduce a huge number of rules, which seemed to be a way for the aristocrats to trip up the non-aristocrats,” she said.
