Children shouldn't be taught to curtsey for the queen at school

[Lemith]

Thankfully not mine, but my sisters DD is preparing for a visit from Liz and they have all been told to curtsey / bow before her.

I've nothing against the monarchy particularly, but I dont like all this wankery and would treat them just like any other stranger.

Liz once or twice a year gets in my way when she's had a road closed and caused massive inconvince to us commoners.

Aibu to think this should be the child's choice how they greet royals?

[CorbynsTopButton]

Yes, MrsGently. Can't quite believe the whole "Well, if you don't like HRH and her lovely parades, move to France" brigade

[Vintagebeads]

The way I would look at is,if the Emperor of Japan came to the school the children would be taught a bow,which most likely no one would have an issue with,so if you have no issue with the former than I don't understand the issue with curtsey for the queen tbh.
That being said I doubt the Queen would notice or care either way if your DN does or does not curtsey.

[ItGoesWithoutSaying]

You've chosen to live in this country, therefore you have implicitly agreed to abide by its laws, customs and etiquette

Don't know about the OP, but I was born here so didn't really choose. And I certainly didn't choose our Head of State like they get to do in many other countries. No, a hereditary monarchy is imposed on us.

As for the OP's dilemma. Not sure. I'm certain that I'd refuse to curtsy and/or bow and scrape to them, but would I want to put my DD in that position? I'd probably talk to my DD about it and let her decide.

I seem to remember the author Joan Smith saying the Queen was very rude when she didn't curtsy and spoke first. Not sure Liz would be that rude to a small child but you never know.

[SirChenjin]

Don't people in Japan bow to each other as a mark of respect anyway? I like that idea - everyone bowing to one another!

[BeStrongAndCourageous]

I'd object to that too Vintagebeads. I object to hereditary privilege in all its forms.

[ilovesooty]

She doesn't have a dilemma does she? It's not her child.

[Nonnainglese]

The etiquette is curtesy to the Queen, a curtesy/head bow/or not do anything to the rest of the Royal Family.

Personally I think it's common respect but I don't suppose anyone's going to be carted off to the Tower if you don't do anything. You probably wouldn't get away with ignoring custom and expected behaviour in some other countries.

[CorbynsTopButton]

I was never much of a fan of Little Britain, but I did like it when the voiceover said "Everybody in Britain loves the royal family. They are the cleverest, strongest, loveliest, most selfish people in Britain"

[DiamondoInTheSky]

ITGoesWithout - you've chosen to remain here. Nothing to stop OP moving to a republic!

[florentina1]

IF newspapers are to be believed, Wills has already said that he will do away with curtseying and bowing.

[Liomsa]

But people in Japan bow to one another the way we shake hands. It's not equivalent. Of course YANBU, OP. (While obviously it's your niece's ultimate decision). I'm astonished anyone would think you were being unreasonable - what a lot of forelock tugging on this thread.

[Lemith]

Can't quite believe the whole "Well, if you don't like HRH and her lovely parades, move to France" brigade

Exactly, I was born here as most people are. oz are getting ever closer to ditching them, when that happens I'd like us to be given the same option also.

[OfaFrenchmind2]

I am not a monarchist, hell I am French, so my ancestors spend most of the 5 years after 1789 shortening by a head the nobility and the royal family. And yet I would curtsey to the Queen. And bow to the Emperor of Japan, and genuflect to the Pope in the Vatican. Because I obey the customs of the country and systems I am in.
You would look more like a rude twit with a big mouth but no follow up if you did not curtsey and yet had no political republican engagement.

[Arsicles]

I think it's common respect

I think it's actually unquestioning deference, which is very different. I wonder what the queen thinks? Either she hates all the bowing and scraping, in which case it should be stopped. Or, she arrogantly considers it her due, in which case it should be stopped.

[CorbynsTopButton]

And yet I would curtsey to the Queen. And bow to the Emperor of Japan, and genuflect to the Pope in the Vatican. Because I obey the customs of the country and systems I am in.

And so the system continues... which is all very convenient for those it benefits.

[Lemith]

French- I would adher to customs when visiting a country. However in my home country I would make a judgement call.

[Littleonesaid]

YABVU.

[MaidOfStars]

Also, how far down the royal line does the requirement to curtsy go?

The realisation that etiquette might require me to curtesy to Kate Middleton completely crystallised my objection to the Royal Family.

Nothing to do with her, particularly. Just the idea that, by dint of who she married, I would automatically become subservient to her upstart

[CorbynsTopButton]

Hmm, is curtseying to someone because of who they married worse than curtseying to someone because of who their mother/father is, Maid? Or do you just mean it made you realise how ridiculous the whole thing is?

[Lemith]

In a cinema in Bangkok I stood up for their glorious leader video, just as I was visiting for a short time. I didn't agree with it but I was on holiday, and they may imprison people for being rude about their monarchy.

[BeStrongAndCourageous]

Hang on, ONE person in the UK expects to be bowed/curtsied to, and all of us who don't like it should leave? How is that fair? Why does her desire to be grovelled to trump my belief that she is no better than me or anyone else?

[iamaboveandBeyond]

"I wonder what the queen thinks? Either she hates all the bowing and scraping, in which case it should be stopped. Or, she arrogantly considers it her due, in which case it should be stopped."

Yy

[Senpai]

There's plenty of out dated traditions people still follow. It's a novelty that the queen is visiting and a once in a lifetime occasion. I bet the kids are excited and having fun with it, and this is probably the only time outside a play they'll ever have to bow or curtsy to someone.

There's a time and place to be "unique", and acting out while you should be showing basic hospitality to make a guest welcome is just rude. You wouldn't refuse to take your shoes off in Japan when visiting a house. Why wouldn't you follow and show respect to your own country's customs and traditions?

[Donotknowhownottomind]

Why bow and curtsey though ? She seems like a nice enough person and is a good enough replacement for a president IMO (though I would still rather this were a republic), but why the added respect? Do we curtsey to presidents? If not then we shouldn't be curtseying to her.

[CorbynsTopButton]

Because she's the cleverest and the loveliest, BeStrong. Now bugger off to France, would you?