I Know “Order of Operations,” but What’s “Order of Precedence?”

One of the grandest moments at any Night of a Thousand Gowns comes when His Royal Highness, the Grand Duke Swanson opens the curtains on the glittering assemblage of monarchs and courtiers of the Imperial Court of New York.   It’s a showstopping moment of huge gowns, huge jewels and it’s also the moment that the members step up to play the most regal and most ridiculous part of this game we play:  protocol. Part of what makes the Imperial Court of New York different from other fundraisers in New York is our attention to formalized whimsy.  Whimsy because we’re a bunch of grown men and women who work day jobs, pay mortgages and insura...