15 June 2012 Last updated at 01:40 ET

David Anderson on how to look after the Queen

By Julie McCullough BBC News

A party to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee is being held within the grounds of Stormont

It is just over a week until the Queen arrives in Northern Ireland as part of her Diamond Jubilee tour.

Her visit will include a celebration at Stormont Estate, which will be attended by up to 20,000 people.

Although not all of them will get to meet the Queen personally - for those who do - David Anderson can give them a bit of advice.

For 25 years he was the household manager at Hillsborough Castle - the main residence of the Royals when they stay in Northern Ireland.

Journalist Betty Lowry, now 90, remembers the early visits of the Queen's reign

"In those days a royal visit was a big story for the newspapers. Most people didn't have a TV, and they were in black and white anyway, so they relied on newspapers for detailed descriptions," she says.

"That always included what the young Queen was wearing, especially in those early post-war years of shortage.

"I had to settle what colours the Queen was wearing. All the papers had to be agreed and the men covering the visit were always glad to leave it to me to decide how best to describe them."

Security in the 1950s and 60s was also less of a concern than it later became, says Betty.

"People would be able to gather on roads and streets to see the royal party go by and there was always a good turnout."

But that could sometimes lead to a little confusion.

"In those days, the government sent limousines to collect reporters covering the visits. I remember a limo collecting me at the Belfast Telegraph to go to Aldergrove airport, as it was then, for the Queen's arrival.

"In those days the journalists always dressed up for the occasion, even though we never actually got close to the Queen, and I was wearing my best clothes, hat, gloves and all.

"On the way back from the airport we passed people along a country road and they all cheered and waved.

"They had mistaken us for part of the royal party so I gave them my best smile and as regal a wave as I could!"

He now works at the Montalto Estate in Ballynahinch - but still remembers what it was like to look after a Queen.

According to him she was not a difficult guest.

"All she insisted on was somewhere quiet, somewhere private, somewhere comfortable to sit in between engagements," he said.

"A blanket, a footstool, things that made it comfortable and more cosy.

"A table to set her glasses on or if she wanted a drink.... and of course, very importantly, a selection of local books. "

When it came to food, he said the Queen liked it to be sourced locally.

It was the same for the flowers placed in her room which, incidentally, had to be removed before she slept at night.

Although David said there were no hard and fast rules about how you should behave if you met the Queen, he thinks it is well-mannered to use the traditional forms of greeting.

"For the gentlemen it was always very easy because it was always just a simple neck bow.

"But for the ladies it was deemed appropriate that they should curtsey at the point of introduction and it's always a very elegant thing to do."

Of course, it is only elegant if you know what you are doing. Basically, David said a real curtsey is putting one leg behind the other, bending your knee and bowing your head at the same time.

He thinks it is something that should be done as she walks past or if you are introduced to her formally.

And if you are one of those who get to speak to the Queen and if you do want to follow the rules - remember it is "Your Majesty" the first time you address her and "Ma'am " subsequently.

Ten thousand free tickets for the event at Stormont Castle go on release from 09:00 BST on Tuesday.

Members of the public can apply for them through the Ticketmaster website and the Ticketmaster 24hr Call Centre (0844 2774455).