We only plate for those who cannot get their own food, like small children or elderly who have a difficult time. For everyone else it's family style for up to 6 people (that's all that fits comfortably at the kitchen or dining room tables), and buffet from our big island for larger crowds where we use both kitchen and dining rooms for seating. We prefer family style & buffet so everyone gets to choose what they want and how much, plus, DW has lots of serving pieces for daily use as well as every serving piece available for her Minton china from my frequent trips to London.
I don't concern myself with the Queen Mum, as she has rejected too many invitations to dinner. Let her eat with her brats. In more than 36 years of marriage and serving countless meals, nobody of any consequence has ever complained about how their meals were served. Children do not count as people of consequence, because they bitch about everything.