Some trinkets for kids can be big plastic jewel rings, bubble wands, bracelets, etc.

Consider getting some small “business cards” as Prince/Princess and then again as King/Queen. Put your contact information on one side and your chamberlain’s (or other main retainers) on the other. These can be given to folk who would like to do something for you so they have your staff’s contact information. Small thank-you receipt cards are also helpful. (See the King/Queen section.) Also useful are some address labels. They can be made with the kingdom arms for you as Prince/Princess and again as King/Queen.

Plan ahead now and commission someone to do your County scroll and to make your County coronet. Princesses will also need to commission a Rose scroll . While it is still a while ahead of you, think about what type of Rose ceremony you might want. It can be a separate ceremony or joint with the County and can be done immediately after you step down in the morning or at the evening Court.

At Events

Think back to your meetings with Royalty. What action of theirs was meaningful to you as a member of the populace? Once you stop being nervous, start noticing things about people – a nice color combination in clothing, a pretty trim, a handicraft the person is working on. Tell the people; compliment them; give a small token in recognition of their accomplishment.

If coursing the hounds is allowed, be aware that there is a Princess’s dog pack as well as a Queen’s pack. The owners really appreciate your attendance at the early morning coursing. And, they will often offer to let one of the animals accompany you into court.

Remember to visit the archery, rapier, and boffer fields as well as the heavy weapons lists. If you are not an archer, there is a kingdom crossbow that is light enough and easy enough to use. The archers will be glad to give you instruction and will see to it that the bolts are set in the bow for you. Try some of the thrown weapons as well. These areas are often ignored by the Crown and the participants are glad of any notice you give them.

Once You Become King and Queen

At Coronation you might want to have someone with a large empty van help transport all the things back. There might be left-over “largesse” from the previous reign; there will be two sets of thrones, at least one or two boxes of paperwork, more retainer baldrics, one kneeling pillow apiece (you each need one), several banners and banner stand(s), a scroll-signing box, feast gear box and much, much more.

One warning on the big thrones…They are hard for your retainers to see around. They need to peer through the cutout carving on the top, so don’t toss a cloak over it! The big thrones are also hard to hear around so your retainers may not hear a whispered request of yours. Also, the King’s and Queen’s banners, when set up on their stands are not visible behind those big thrones. When you use those thrones, the banners should be set up off to one side of the throne(s).

Keep some space behind the thrones for the herald(s), champion(s), retainer(s), and seneschal, as well as for gift movement from you to the retainers. Some sites make this more difficult than others but keep in mind that you need some folk standing behind you.

You may want to carry a small extra table with you when holding court. It makes a good staging area for the retainer to set out award medallions prior to court so that they are ready to set on the table/box between your thrones.

There are two regalia rugs that are available for your use under the thrones.

Preparing Court Lists

When you get ready to make up a court list you might want to start three weeks prior to the event so that most of your work is finished by two weeks before. The scribes really appreciate a two-week lead for scrolls. You will need to send the court list to:

1. Dragon Herald (who will check to see if the awards have already been given)
2. Kingdom Signet (who will send it to the regional/principality signet who will assign scrolls)

When you step up as King and Queen you should receive the URL and password so you can access the online recommendations.

Take several (two or three) copies of the court list to events. One can go to the retainer setting out the medallions. The herald(s) will want one – or two. And it is nice to have one on the box between the thrones to see what award is coming next. Some Crowns write out personal comments on a small card that they (or a retainer) flip as each recipient walks away so that the next card is ready for the next recipient. Ask what the current Crown does. Take a look at their court list to get an idea of how to set one up.

You will need to sign scrolls prior to court. Usually an hour is set aside to check the order of the awards, remind the heralds of any other business (or to learn from the herald what might have come up, such as presentations). Have a staff member record the name of the court herald in case a court report is not sent in. The Crown is ultimately responsible for getting the notice into the Pale if the herald does not. No award is official until it has been published in the Pale. You might assign a staff member to check the Pale report to see that it matches with the record of awards you gave. If you change an award at the last minute, or add one, keep a record!

Learn how to sign each other’s names. It will come in handy when he is still in the shower, no scrolls have been signed and court is due to start in twenty minutes.

Miscellaneous

At your Crown Tourney , the Queen usually draws the names for the first tourney pairings. The Crown traditionally provides some kind of token for the entrants. If you don’t have any idea of what to provide, ask some previous royalty for suggestions. The consorts of the two finalists are usually given a bouquet of flowers. Check to see who is providing this. It would be nice if the event has this expense built in since you already have many expenses. Per discussion in 2002, the Order of the Rose may take this upon themselves. However, have a staff member verify that someone is providing the bouquets.

Go to the bathroom before the finals begin!

Read the ceremony before you get into Court! Find out if the new Prince would prefer to crown his Princess by himself, if he would like the Queen to do it, or if he would like it to be a joint crowning with himself and the Queen.

Until Northshield becomes a kingdom, you are required to attend Northshield’s Investiture and Coronet Tourney . Check to see who, by protocol and law, puts the crown on whom. During the reign of Valharic and Alys, the new Prince was jointly crowned by the King (required by law) and the outgoing Northshield Prince. The Princess was jointly crowned by the new Prince and the Queen. The incoming Prince (by Corpora) crowns the new Viscount, although (again) both the new Prince and King Valharic had their hands on the coronet.

By law all territorial barons and baronesses must swear fealty to each new Crown. You are also supposed to receive a baronial report from each of the baronies. You may wish to keep a written record to pass on to the next Crown of who has sworn fealty and sent in a report. If a baron and/or baroness wish to step down they will inform you. They should also have informed the Kingdom Seneschal and the Deputy for Change. The polling process takes place through that office. However, you will need to go to their barony for any investiture.

You are required to hold three Curias per reign.

You will probably want to send out two polls in each peerage, one at the beginning of your reign and one at the end. The Order Secretaries will send them out for you. Send them a copy of any cover letter or special instructions to the Order. Give the Secretary a date for the deadline. Three weeks is adequate, four is probably more than enough. You are responsible for tabulating the results although you may delegate this to someone. If the person is not in that Order, it goes without saying that s/he should be responsible and closed-mouthed.

Consider having a small gift-receipt card made up. The side for the recipient’s information should include the SCA and modern names, a mailing address and space for a description of the gift. There are several special thank-you cards that have been designed for the Crown. Have a photocopy place make up a number of them and get envelopes to fit. If you are too busy to write the cards, have a staff member help you. People like to give the Crown gifts and are usually surprised and thrilled to receive a personal note from the King/Queen. Keep a supply of the cards with you (with your retainer) and have the retainer see that the card is filled out before the gift-giver walks away.

It is also nice to send a thank-you note to the autocrat of the events you attend, the people you crash with, and any others who were of special assistance (royalty liaison, head cook, etc.)

Pennsic

If you will be the Prince or Princess your Pennsic life will be “easy”. You have no official responsibilities other than what Their Majesties give you. You will be expected to attend Opening Ceremonies and Midrealm Court and probably Great Court.

There is a separate document for being Pennsic King and Queen.

By: Countess Alys Katharine, OP, OL, OW, OPF, ODH