It's not like the Queen of England spends her time criss-crossing America to say "hello" to everyone, but we wouldn't want to be unprepared if we ever cross paths.

Of course, after holding her title for more than 60 years, the queen has her routine for making a polite introduction down to a science. But you should also know how to impress the royal family by following their famously stiff rules.

Everything from the way they sit, to the words they use, the food they eat, and the way they dress has been decided ahead of time to keep the royal family from embarrassing themselves in public.

If you find yourself in a room with the queen, it's important to play by her rules. And that includes never calling her "the queen."

1. It's "your majesty," thank you.

While Queen Elizabeth is part of her full royal title, it's considered rude to use her full name. Instead, greet her as "your majesty," then switch to the less formal "ma'am," which is considered perfectly polite.

Above all, avoid saying any royal nicknames out loud.

2. Let her make the first move.

If the queen wants to shake your hand, she'll offer hers. Let the queen initiate any contact, or else you could get in trouble with her security guards.

Even Canada's Governor General found himself in trouble after politely offering the queen his hand on a staircase.

But those aren't the only rules to keep in mind.

3. Learn the royal greeting.

It's traditional for women to greet her majesty with a curtsy, while men introduce themselves with a short bow. Make sure you're steady on your feet, or else you might be shamed for your "wobbly" curtsy like Meghan Markle was.

4. Dress nicely, and bring a gift.

While there's no official dress code for greeting a member of the royal family, you would be well advised to dress smartly. After all, someone is bound to be snapping a photo of you, and you'll want to look nice for posterity.

It's also traditional to have a gift ready for the queen, unless she's just stopping by for a personal visit.

5. Follow her lead.

Following the correct order is a big part of royal protocol.

When you step from one room to the next, the queen should lead the way, followed by any other royal family members (by rank again) and then any commoners. The same goes for eating, drinking, and pretty much everything else.

It's considered quite rude to tuck into your meal before her majesty takes her first bite.

I hope I get the chance to use this advice some day!

[H/T: AOL]