AIBU Why do English people curtsy to the royal family?

[PineapplePower]

I need to stop reading the Daily Mail, but there was an article there about how “low” you should curtsy to your betters.

...there was a photo of Theresa May curtsying to Prince William, of all people. I found it absolutely repulsive.

Think what you will of her, but should she be bowing and scraping in front of a 30-something dude that hasn’t done much with his life? She’s the PM fer chrissakes!!!

Scottish people would be scorned for bowing or scraping.

So I thought the English reference in the title was pretty acceptable.

RoseWhiteTips you know there are millions of people in England who don’t have much regard for the royals don’t you? Millions.

And there are plenty of royalist Scots and Welsh people. As evidenced by the crowds that turn out when they’re there.

To say one nation is wholly made up of fawning sycophants and another is all “come the revolution” is just ridiculous.

And I speak as an English republican

I was just playing devil’s advocate. 😉

Yeah. Course.

Antiquated 'etiquette'. I also hope it's not true that things like wedge heels, dark or bright nail polish etc are "not allowed around the Queen, as she dislikes them & thinks they are vulgar" . If it's true, it's ridiculous & controlling. Who made her the fashion police or, has a flunkey decided that.

I can't believe people even give this headspace. Who cares if people curtsy or not.

I met the queen first in 1977 (yes yes I'm very old) no bow or curtesy required. I met her and Phillip a few times since then and also no bow or curtesy required, Prince Phillip simply shook hands, and the queen merely smiled and said hello. If I had been directed at any point to bow or curtesy I would have either followed protocol or not gone to the event.

I would never show deference to this family. I would only show detence to a judge given the powers they have to jail me if I don't

I've met the Queen twice and official info beforehand said no need to curtsy nor do you have to wait to be spoken to, esp if awkward silence is the alternative.

As it was, just a slight touch of the royal glove and a mumbled 'Your majesty' when introduced before she then spoke to DH,but it was his gig, not mine!

But if you don't like that sort of thing don't accept the invitation.No one forces you to meet the royals...unless you're the PM.

Tradition. We can choose to observe it or not.

I rather like the idea that there are real life people who you can curtesy to.

I view it in the same way as the Ceremony of the Keys and that kind of thing - an centuries-old tradition that is no longer necessary but somehow is distinctly British and charming.

I don’t think it lessens of demeans me - my degree, career, independence and wotnot won’t suddenly evaporate if I curtesy to someone.

senior

Judges take their powers from Her Majesty.

Why shouldn't we bow or curtsy if we so wish. You're revolting

You do you. I just find it weird that this practice still exists and actual accomplished people grovel at even the younger royals, I can’t believe they don’t have a sense of shame about it. I’m a foreigner so of course find it very odd.

To clarify: that the royals don’t feel ashamed that talented accomplished people vow and scrape.

Great piece in the guardian about this - it mused why TM does it as it seems totally incongruous (and she makes it look so bloody awkward!!)
William has said people don't need to bow/curtsey unless they want to but I think the palace should go further and say it's no longer protocol at all.

Pineapple

That's fine. Please feel free to ignore our culture mores.

Because they have a divine right to rule and the rest of us, including Theresa May, are mere subjects.

We are not all equal under our constitutional system and I don't have a problem with that. They are higher up the peaking order than may and the royal family will still be here for centuries.

Long live the queen.

When Charles becomes King could it be abolished like the old tradition of being presented at court. He does see himself as a moderniser I believe.

Winebottle I beg to differ that the Royals will be around for centuries. When The Queen passes away I can’t see it surviving for very long. Charles is somewhat unpopular although I think he is a good man. Prince William seems to want all of the perks and is very selective regarding the responsibility. He resents the intrusion into his privacy but doesn’t wasn’t to give up his way of life.

In a formal or ceremonial context I'd be comfortable with the idea of bowing to the Queen, in respect for her role as head of state rather than in her personal capacity. It's tradition, just like I happily doffed my mortar board to the vice chancellor at my graduation!

Bowing to less senior royals or in informal contexts does seem silly, though.

Because they have a divine right to rule and the rest of us

Does anyone actually believe the divine right stuff?

Aside from the queen of course. She seems to genuinely think that.

I suppose the day TM flies choppers and serves in the forces and flies an air ambulance they'll be on equal pegging, no?

Prince William being pegged by Theresa May, thanks 🤮

To accept a divine right to rule you'd need to accept the concept of divinity so that's me out for a start.

When The Queen passes away I can’t see it surviving for very long.
I can't see it ending any time soon, but I could see it getting rather more low-key. You know, like in many of the other constitutional monarchies in Europe and the wider world.