The 7 SHOCKING modern habits proving British manners have 'fallen off a cliff': Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles' former royal butler lifts the lid on 'lazy, rude and uncouth' Brits

If there’s one thing us Brits pride ourselves on, it’s a sense of decorum. Afternoon teas, croquet on the lawn, using the best cups and saucers when entertaining, and muttering ‘thank you’ when appropriate appreciation is not delivered for holding a door open for a stranger.Manners are quintessentially British and our reputation for polite queuing is a worldwide source of amusement. Mr Julius F. Smith, former butler to King Charles and late Queen Elizabeth IIBut while our fair isle was once the undisputed capital of refinement, world-renowned for stiff upper lips, flawless etiquette, and gentlemen who wouldn't dream of stepping foot outside without a polished shoe, according to a former royal butler, the nation’s manners have completely fallen off a cliff.Julius F. Smith, former butler to the royals including King Charles, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and dignitaries including three serving Prime Ministers, has lifted the lid on the lazy, rude, and downright shocking habits that are causing modern Brits to lose every ounce of their class.Reflecting on how previous generations managed to hold themselves to a higher standard, Mr Smith, who has also served to Bill Gates, Donald Trump and rock star Jon Bon Jovi, says, 'We have all heard someone say, "My grandfather was a real gentleman," or, "My auntie was such a lady." Why do we say that? The reason is simple: they had impeccable manners, the kind still remembered decades later.'He warned that time is running out for the current generation to save its reputation. 'I hope that, in years to come, people will say the same of me, though for most of us the jury is still out. Recent observations suggest we have let slip the standards our forefathers set,' says Mr Smith, founder of Regal Afternoon Tea. 'My mother always told me you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and that remains true today, we form judgements about a person's manners and class almost instantly.'Here are the modern habits the royal expert says are letting the nation down the most: 1. Savage table mannersWith eating out now a staple of everyday life, Smith revealed it has exposed a staggering divide between the refined and the uncouth.Addressing critics who wonder if dining etiquette still matters, he says, 'The answer is yes. We are quick to notice poor table manners in others, and just as quick to form an opinion of them because of it.' He singles out culprits such as 'elbows on the table, talking with a mouth full of food, or attacking a knife and fork like a shovel.''These small details are noticed far more than most people realise, and they say a great deal about how we were raised,' he says. 2. Screen-obsessed dinner guestsIn an age where smartphones are glued to hands, the former royal aide called out the sheer disrespect of ignoring companions for a screen.'We have all been guilty of it: glued to our phones even when someone is speaking directly to us. We need to get back into the habit of leaving our phones in a pocket or bag, out of sight, during meals and conversations.'Smith highlights a clever trick one exasperated friend used to combat the plague: 'A friend of mine, tired of watching his family disappear into their screens at dinner, introduced a house rule: whoever looks at their phone first at the table pays the bill.' 3. Sentence interruptions and short tempersIt seems basic conversation skills have completely broken down across the country.'Have you noticed how determined people are to interrupt mid-sentence just to make their own point? When did we stop listening to one another?' he asks. 'Real conversation means letting someone finish, then responding to what they actually said, not what you assumed they'd say.'Smith also notes a worrying rise in hostility, saying, 'It feels as though people are quicker to anger these days, having lost the patience to hear both sides of an argument before reacting.'4. Filthy feet on public transport If there is one modern habit that drives the etiquette guru up the wall, it is commuters treating public carriages like their personal living rooms.'This is my particular bugbear. Get on a bus or a train and you will almost always find someone with their feet up on the seat opposite. I used to assume people wouldn't dream of doing that at home, then I realised, of course they would.' 5. PJs in the supermarketSlouching through the aisles in nightwear has become a shocking habit on high streets across the UK.'Can you imagine your parents nipping to the supermarket in their pyjamas when you were a child? It would have been unthinkable. Yet the habit has become so widespread that Tesco has had to introduce a policy turning away shoppers who aren't properly dressed.' 6. The death of please and thank youBasic manners have vanished entirely, with the disgruntled butler utterly astonished by today's ‘self-absorbed culture’.'It baffles me that some people can't manage the most basic courtesies of "please" and "thank you,"' he says. 'Too many of us seem to move through the world as though everyone else exists purely to serve us, without so much as a nod of acknowledgement in return.' 7. Scruffy dress sense Whether attending fine dining establishments, West End shows, or solemn funerals, Brits have simply stopped dressing up.'Somewhere along the way, we decided there was no need to make an effort, whether for fine dining, the theatre, or even funerals. I think this reflects poor manners and a lack of respect for the staff or performers at these events,' says Smith.He offers a timeless piece of advice for anyone second-guessing their outfit. 'A useful rule of thumb: if you're overdressed, you can always dress down; if you're underdressed, you have nowhere to hide.'Despite the decline in standards, the former butler insists that restoring British class does not require a fortune or an aristocratic title.'There's an old saying that money can't buy class, and it's entirely true. Even those struggling financially can show kindness and good manners; the two have nothing to do with wealth.'At its heart, having good manners simply means making the people around you feel valued. The small things matter most - holding a door open, offering a firm handshake, truly looking at and listening to whoever is speaking to you.'Issuing a final rallying cry to the nation, Smith added, 'Perhaps, if we all made a little more effort, future generations might say of us what we say of our own grandparents: that we had beautiful manners, and a touch of class. None of this requires wealth, status, or a special occasion, just a little more thought for the people around us. Because in the end, class was never something money could buy.'