"Well, first you have to understand that I was hobbled, socially speaking¹. I couldn't disinvite him altogether because he was friends with both the grooms, and denying them would appear ungracious. A social cut is most effective when it's a tool to excise those who have done something you've deemed socially unacceptable, which would be -- as you know -- his treatment of Galahad. But for it to be truly effective in this situation, he would've had to do his duty as a guest and attempt to greet me as the host. I would then give him the cut direct, by looking directly at him without acknowledging him. It would communicate that while I could not disinvite him, I do not welcome him, do not condone his conduct or consider him fit for civil discourse. Well-employed, the cut direct's absolutely devastating. If the queen were to give the court direct to a courtier, for instance, it would be social death. A queen like Gertrude had to entertain many men with brusque manners in her court because of her husband's warmongering company, but if one approached her and she gave him the cut direct, it would be clear to him -- and to all watching -- that the queen had not accepted him into her society." And it made a young Claudius's heart catch with admiration, when he watched her do it. "Unfortunately, Lancelot had no sense of his duties as a guest, and I don't think it even occurred to him to thank me for hosting. He might not have known -- he's that oblivious. So I made some show of moving to greet him, before giving him the cut indirect. Indirect is when you simply pretend not to see someone, but in such an obvious way that it's clear you're snubbing them. Utterly wasted. The most obvious of cuts could not be obvious enough for him."

¹ Does he? Well, Claudius thinks it's important context.