the nobility; lords and ladies
Historical term referring to the noble class, especially in the context of the Heian period or similar eras. Not used in modern Japanese outside of historical or literary contexts.
Tales from the Heian period depict the elegant lives of the nobility.
visitors; guests
Polite, somewhat old-fashioned term for visitors or guests. In modern Japanese, お客様 or 来客 are more common, but 殿達 can still be encountered in formal or traditional settings.
We are truly honored to welcome our distinguished guests today.
Compound of 殿 (との, 'lord') and 達 (たち, pluralizing suffix). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it likely originated as a respectful plural form for nobles.