While you don't have to bow or curtsy when meeting a member of the British Royal Family, many people choose to do so as a mark of respect.
If you're wondering what a curtsy looks like, a royal fan account on TikTok was recently asked to edit together footage of people curtsying to Princess Kate, and they happily obliged.
The result is a video that is going viral and attracting a slew of comments from royal fans and dissenters alike.
"I would definitely curtsy to Kate if I met her," wrote one person.
"She deserves it. We respect and love her," said another.
"She is iconic ... love Kate," added a third person.
Others weren't so impressed with the footage. "Like hell I would ever bow to royals...." someone remarked.
Others still pointed out how odd this whole thing is. "Imagine you are a normal person and a few years later everyone just bows to you"
If all of this has you wondering what exactly you're supposed to do if you ever find yourself in the presence of a British royal, here it is, according to the official family website (this particular page hasn't been updated since Queen Elizabeth's sad passing).
"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.
"On presentation to The Queen, the correct formal address is 'Your Majesty' and subsequently 'Ma'am,' pronounced with a short 'a,' as in 'jam'.
"For male members of the Royal Family the same rules apply, with the title used in the first instance being 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Sir'.
"For other female members of the Royal Family the first address is conventionally 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Ma'am'."
As Newsweek points out, there has been renewed interest in curtsies and bows among royals since Meghan Markle drew attention to the custom in Harry & Meghan on Netflix.
During the docuseries, the Duchess of Sussex remembered preparing to meet the Queen for the first time.
"I remember in the car driving up, and he [Harry] said, 'You know how to curtsy right?' [...] And I just thought it was a joke."
She also demonstrated a very over-the-top "joke" curtsy, which—it seems—was designed to show how little she knew how to behave when she first met the royals, but which drew a lot of criticism from people who saw it as disrespectful.
-
Does Katie Holmes Have a New Favorite Shoe Trend?She swapped her usual sneakers for $150 Mary Janes.
-
Nicola Peltz Beckham Skipped Her Mother-in-Law Victoria Beckham’s 50th Birthday Party—But There’s a ReasonThe nonexistent Nicola/Victoria feud continues to not exist.
-
Hugh Grant Is More Than Ready for the Next 'Bridget Jones' MovieThe fourth movie might just be the best of the entire series.
-
Will Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet Appear in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Two New Netflix Series?Filming for both shows—about polo and cookery—began this month.
-
Yes, That’s Meghan Markle’s Calligraphy on American Riviera Orchard’s LogoEverything having to do with the lifestyle brand seems personal to the Duchess of Sussex.
-
Meghan Markle’s New Netflix Cookery Show Begins Filming Today—But Not Where You’d Expect It to Be ShotThe Sussexes are having a busy week this week, shooting both of their his-and-her Netflix shows and rolling out the first product offering for Meghan’s new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard.
-
Meghan Markle’s Lifestyle Brand American Riviera Orchard Reveals Its First Product OfferingFifty samples were sent out in the company’s first limited edition run of the item.
-
Meghan Markle Thinks Prince Harry Is "Making a Big Mistake" in Wanting to Reach Out to William, Kate: SourceShe's worried he'll get hurt again.
-
King Charles “Desperately” Wants the Sussexes to Join Him at Balmoral This SummerThe castle in the Scottish Highlands, independent of a potential Sussex visit, is undergoing a major change starting this summer.
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Officially Announce Two New Netflix Series, Both In the “Early Stages” of ProductionOne show focuses on one of Meghan’s primary hobbies, while the other goes behind the curtain of one of Harry’s foremost passions.
-
Meghan Markle Feels Princess Kate Should Have Had Her Back as a Fellow "Outsider," Says ExpertMeghan doesn't want to repair their relationship, supposedly.
