MAKING sure one's child has table manners fit for Buckingham Palace has become a top educational priority for some Shanghai parents, who are forking out for expensive etiquette lessons to give their little princes and princesses a social edge in posh settings.

Last month, a group of local children aged between 7 and 12 attended a special course in English table manners held by UK children’s clothing brand David Charles. Parents paid the princely sum of 3,800 yuan (US$580) a head for the course, which was presided over by British etiquette expert James Seatton.

During the dining course, the immaculately attired children learned how different pieces of cutlery are used for different courses, how to cut their food into neat little pieces, the importance of sitting still and upright, and that putting elbows on the table is a serious no-no in polite circles.