Social Hierarchy Etiquette in United Kingdom

Social hierarchy is usually handled with understatement in the United Kingdom: people may notice class, accent, education, or job title, but it is considered rude to act openly deferential or to boast about status. In practice, first names are common fairly quickly in many settings, yet formal titles and a measured, polite tone still matter in older institutions, at work, and when meeting someone clearly senior or aristocratic.