If you were to meet a member of the royal family would you bow/curtsey etc?

[Blackcats7]

I support the royal family in general in that I don't want to see the institution abolished but I would like to see some changes which I think change will come in time with Charles and then William.
It occurred to me that in the highly unlikely/impossible scenario I ever met a member of the royal family I could not agree to curtsey or call them sir, ma'am, your majesty etc. I would want to be polite and friendly but I just could not show that deference to anyone.
Would you follow royal protocol or just be polite but not excessively deferential?

No

I think the member of the royal family who would be most put out by someone not doing so is ironically the one most people would respect the least on account of the allegations (which I believe) of him having slept with sex trafficked young women.

He would be inwardly furious at what he deems a lack of respect I think. Despite not being worthy of people's automatic respect simply because of the family he was born into.

I think that people who love the concept of the royal family forget that it's purely through accident of birth order that he isn't now the King. That shows how archaic and out of touch the institution is now. He would be king if he had been born first of his siblings.

Madness.

I met Prince Edward last year and we were told we didn't have to curtsey/bow so I didn't. He was really funny (which i wasnt expecting) and I enjoyed meeting him.

No I wouldn't but would be perfectly polite, as I am to anyone I come in contact with.

A doctor, a priest, a teacher etc have all worked to earn their title so yes I will use it if they wish, many don't. In my workplace, teachers are 'Sir' and 'Miss' but I don't like that so I just use full names. No problem.

No, and I find it really weird and irritating that Kate seems to be constantly curtseying to her FIL and previously to her GMIL. It's weird.

I have met several members of the Royal Family and curtseyed each time.

We had to curtsey to the headmistress when I was at school - not every day - but at important events like prize giving etc. I’m not that old either!

Kids curtsying looks adorable. Adults curtsying looks universally ridiculous unless they are in a floor-length gown to hide their legs - it’s the knees in all directions that looks so bad.

Nope.
I'm anti-monarchy though.

Because in the context it’s a form of deference.

I showed Prince Philip round an exhibition, met the then Prince Charles at another similar occasion and also Princess Margaret. No curtesy was required

Does anyone know why men bow and women curtsey?

I have met a couple of senior royals and I just shook their hands and said "good afternoon" the same as I would to anyone else.

I did both.

I didn't intend to do either.

But when I got to the top of the queue I bowed and curtsied at the same time and shook his hand.

I was very surprised by my reaction.

I wasn't alone.

I did, a few years back. Prince Edward visiting my workplace, and I was asked to speak to him about our particular department. I did not curtsey. Guidelines said it is up to the individual.

Historic clothing maybe

Tight breeches might rip if he curtseys

Pushed up corset norks might flop out if she bows

Seems logical 😊

Absolutely not. And I am genuinely shocked that people still do tbh.

I am.not a royalist but i would as its protocol

Hell no!!

To add that for Prince Philip.

I've met Prince Edward a few times and just shook his hand.

I wouldn’t care about having to curtsey to them or call them sir or whatever. What harm is it doing me? None whatsoever.

No

i did, the queen and prince philip.. and i would do it again. i love having a royal family, and i respect all the pomp and tradition that goes with it...

I'm sure you're absolutely right.
Brilliant.

This.

Do you still have to bow/curtsey? I didn’t have to when I went for the DofE…I’d address them correctly, because that is their title but if I tried to curtsey, I’d look like a damned fool!