Technically, there are no "obligatory" rules. Still, the website notes that people still "wish to observe the traditional forms." For men, this means a neck bow (or bowing the head only), while women traditionally curtsy. Others can also show respect by simply shaking hands.
There are no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting The Queen or a member of the Royal Family, but many people wish to observe the traditional forms. For men this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way.
Very simple. In public you will most likely be scolded by the ever present army of grannies that the Queen utilises to enforce her decorum, sensibilities and regime of Terror and Werther's Originals. If there was a situation where you met Queen Elizabeth II, would you bow or curtsy to her?
If an American meets a royal, they technically do not have to curtsy or bow because that it's not a custom, Meier explains. Instead, they could choose to simply shake hands to show respect. "That being said, many Americans still choose to observe a traditional British greeting of a bow or curtsy," she says.
Unclear if this was an intentional snub, but what we do know is that Prince William–and every member of the British royal family—is expected to bow to Queen Camilla.
According to Royal protocol, Kate, along with other female members of the family including Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Meghan Markle and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, must curtsey to the King and Queen Camilla as they are the most senior members of the family and male royals are expected to bow their heads.
The one concise rule is that all members of the Royal Family are required to bow or curtsy to King Charles and Queen Camilla.
According to protocol, Meghan is supposed to curtsy to those who outrank her. This includes the Queen, Prince Phillip, Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla.
Questions focused on the couples flooded social media, with many questioning whether the new title meant Sophie no longer had to curtsy to Meghan since they are now both Duchesses. But the fact of the matter is Sophie has never had to curtsy to Meghan, nor had Edward ever bowed to Harry.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh is "relieved" she will no longer be required to curtsy to Meghan Markle, according to a friend of the royal. Prince Edward and his wife Sophie were named the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh last week to mark the Queen's youngest son's 59th birthday.
Since he ascended to the throne, Prince William and Princess Kate have been seen formally greeting the monarch with a bow and curtsy on multiple occasions.
The Queen bowed her head as a sign of respect to her late daughter-in-law, Princess Diana. As the Head of State, Her Majesty was under no obligation to bow to anyone, making the gesture even more poignant.
Foreign nationals are not expected to bow or curtsey. The bow is from the neck and the curtsey is just a short 'bob' (not a theatrical ground-sweeping gesture). Naturally, if The Queen offers to shake hands, you should reciprocate with a gentle handshake (no vigorous hand pumps).
Like Queen Elizabeth, she loves horses and a great tiara moment. Kate Middleton demonstrated a perfect curtsy on coronation day! The Princess of Wales, 41, bent her knee as a gesture of respect as the King Charles passed by on his way out of Westminster Abbey after the crowning ceremony.
The rules of curtsying within the royal family are quite complicated and depend on the setting and who is present, which decide who curtsies to whom. Kate was obliged to curtsy to every member of the royal family, including Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie who outranked her as “blood princesses”.
It is known that before the Queen, who is the symbol of national unity, everyone bowed. But that day, it is Elizabeth who bowed her head as a sign of respect for the passage of Diana's coffin, the woman who more than anyone else had defied the conventions of the Palace."
Sophie had previously been duty-bound to defer to Prince Harry's wife who, as a Duchess, was of a higher rank. Relations between the royal wives were said to have become strained when the Duchess of Sussex reportedly turned down the chance to have Sophie mentor her on life as a Royal.
Some reports insist that, upon marrying into the family, Kate Middleton had to curtsy to all "blood" princesses, such as Beatrice and Eugenie, as well as her own children (except when accompanied by Prince William—duh).
The newly-promoted Duchess of Edinburgh is reportedly "relieved" she is no longer outranked by Meghan and doesn't have to curtsy to her anymore. On Friday, to mark Prince Edward's 59th birthday, King Charles bestowed new titles upon his brother and sister-in-law.
Meghan Markle has received praise online after a clip of her making a final curtsy to Queen Elizabeth II during her state funeral in September 2022 was uploaded to social media.
Conversation. The British Royals only bow/curtsy to the Monarch, their spouse & former monarch's spouse (e.g Queen Mum), but yes they do that even behind closed doors.
What Kate called the Queen. While the rest of the world is required to address Queen Elizabeth as Ma'am or your majesty, those closest to her are allowed to refer to her as Mama, according to Ingrid Seward, the editor of Majesty magazine. Sign up to British Heritage Travel's daily newsletter here!
Prince William Has to Bow to King Charles
Protocol dictates that literally everyone bows to King Charles upon greeting him, which we've maybe seen in action in the photo below. Honestly, though, this could be Prince William and Kate Middleton climbing stairs… while also bowing?
According to a source, the royal women not only curtsy to one another in public, but from the comfort of their own homes too.
Over the weekend, it was reported that the new Duchess of Edinburgh was “relieved” that her new position meant she no longer is required to curtsy to Meghan Markle.