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A Journal guide

Protocol and VIP visits

When an ambassador, a minister or a cardinal comes to a private house, the visit is organised by two offices at once: the guest's and yours. These articles cover your half, in the order the work happens.

Start with the questions to send the guest's office and the forms of address, then the arrival, the room, the staff briefing and the report that makes the next visit easier. The forms and rules are checked against the protocol offices' own guidance, and the sources are listed in each article.

Articles in this guide

Protocol and VIP visits15 min read

Receiving a VIP guest at home: the protocol we use

The protocol we follow when a guest arrives with an office, a driver or a protection officer: the six-week timeline, the questions for the guest's office, the advance visit, the first five minutes, the briefing, diet and religious practice, and the report we write afterwards.

Put it into practice

The Academy guide that goes with these articles, and the service that does the work for you.

Also from the Academy

Or let us do it

We can prepare the visit with your team and be in the house on the day, led by one of us in person.

Household management