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i love the MM curtsey - very graceful.
Yup. They still do it in private. We saw it quite alot during "Elizabeth R", a series on the Royal Family from the 80s (?). There's footage around that shows a Royal birthday party, I think for the Queen Mother, and when people greet the Queen they kiss her on each cheek and then either bow or curtsey. It seems it's the same in private as in public.
Indeed they do. Princess Anne, as with other female Royals, kisses the Queen on each cheek and then curtseys. She also refers to the Queen as "The Queen" and not as "Mummy" or "My Mother". It's protocol.
Mary made quite a beautiful curtsey to Queen Margrethe at her daughters christening last week. But MM does make the most beautiful.
A quick (and probably very obvious) question: what happens when two monarchs meet? For example, if Queen Elizabeth II met Queen Margrethe, would they both dip their heads in recognition? Would they curtsey? Or just give a friendly, informal wave? Sorry if this is a stupid question - I've just been wondering about that!
Thanks - Patrick.
What are the differences between a man or women, on the way they bow or show curtsy?
The fact that they do so, doesn't mean it's the norm. It's actually a mistake on their part, but albeit, a harmless one
Thus, Mrs. Chirac's curtsying to Queen Elizabeth was very inappropriate and in a sense humiliatory to France
Indeed they do. Princess Anne, as with other female Royals, kisses the Queen on each cheek and then curtseys. She also refers to the Queen as "The Queen" and not as "Mummy" or "My Mother". It's protocol.
I think you confuse a nod with a curtsy. A curtsy is from the knees whereas a nod is from the neck. HM The Queen does not curtsy but she does bow her head
I'm sure for the majority of American people that you are right.
But, you know, the WASP, for example are sometimes more strict for the courtesy towards the eldest than in Europe, and they courtesy exactly as we are doing it in Europe the living royal for the specific occasions when we are doing it.
I add that in some families, in France for instance, in GB too, we have yet some rules of courtesy as the " kiss hand " which is very refined way to greet a woman, even in a family where it's very respectul for a son to greet his mother like that . It's at all anachronic and I can say it's very elegant way to do.
I can add again that some Americain people in a some international circles , as diplomatic one, do the " Kiss hand ".
It is true that many people all over Europe and sophisticated Americans from New England and other old-historic parts of the USA are being taught to, and do, bow to ladies, senior people, statesmen in recognition of the office they hold etc etc. It is also true that many men still kiss ladies' hands. But these are done as a reverence or gesture of politesse or respect. Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis, for instance, had taught John to bow deeply to senior (in office or age) personages and I remember once, while watching a White House State gala on TV, John Kennedy bowed deeply to Mrs Clinton and the guests. But bowing and kissing hands is very different from curtsying.
Curtsying has nothing to do with respect. It is done (and, in fact, used to be required) in recognition of, or to acknowledge, someone's superiority. Thus, curtsying is incompatible with the tenets of the American Constitution and I think that Glittering Tiaras made a very good point above. I agree with her completely. I would be very upset if my wife or daughter curtsied to anyone.
I remember being kind of shocked when I realised that when Charles and Diana had divorced, Diana would have to bow at the Royal Family. It must be so strange to do so when you've been part of the family...
Mrs Kennedy, if I recall, curtsied to HRH Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh when he attended the State Funeral of John FK. Certainly a lady of class.
And she was questioned for doing so by the U.S. Chief of Protocol and her mother afterwards. She was the widow of The President of the United States and it was a breach of protocol.