To think curtsying to the royal family is daft?

[BalletBunting]

I really understand why this practice still exists - especially seeing eg Theresa May sinking to the floor to William, a man half her age! I personally wouldn't dream of it, even if I met the Queen herself!

jemihap That was the state banquet for Trump last week. I noticed her too. She looked utterly ridiculous. Especially as she was the only one doing it and she went so low she was almost on the floor. 😂

I dont know any British person who would curtsey or bow, thanfully.
I also think that calling them Your 'Highness' is rediculous . Do people actully think what they are saying?
Treat all people as you would like to be treated.

And I feel Theresa May looks horribly grovelly when she does it

Not because she shouldn't, if she wishes to, but because she goes so low!
I thought the idea was that you curtsey below their eyeline (hence Diana in her high heels flashing a large amount of thigh when curtseying to the emperor of Japan; no doubt not premeditated by her...). The queen's short so that could be tricky.
But William's taller than Theresa so a bob, rather than the full ballerina, should suffice, you'd think.

The whole fucking institution of monarchy is daft.

*MyOpinionIsValid" There was no mention of Princess Margaret queuing at the bar or anywhere else. The poster mentioned serving Princess Margaret in the bar, ie. bringing the drinks to her.

I had no intention of curtseying to Lord Pilkington when he gave me my degree.

There was a tiny intake of breath from the audience.
I'd been told he'd grip my hand until I curtsied but this turned out to be untrue.

When my daughter got her degree some high-up doffed his very fancy feathery hat to her with a flourish, as she won some award with it, which was really rather fun.

I was at a semi private event that a royal was attending and we were told that, if we were presented formally, then a brief knee bob curtsy ( ie, cross right foot behind left ankle and dip slightly) would be appropriate. An American colleague asked if she’s should do the same, as a non subject, and was told, no, not necessary if she did not feel comfortable. Came the intro, I was presented, did my bob without falling over and had brief small talk. They turned to my US colleague next to me who went into a full court curtsy, right down, with bowed head. The royal extended her hand and shook hands whilst also helping her up ! Done very deftly and charmingly.

My colleague said afterwards that she had no idea what came over her - thought too much exposure to Disney princesses might have been a factor

Outmoded and outdated

There was no mention of Princess Margaret queuing at the bar or anywhere else. The poster mentioned serving Princess Margaret in the bar, ie. bringing the drinks to her.

Thanks, yes - though I am unsure of the exact mechanics of the arrangement (I know that my mum was one of a couple of servers, they were totting up her consumption between them), it was the fact that she refused to curtsy to someone who'd drunk enough to floor an elephant as if she were a superior!

I had no intention of curtseying to Lord Pilkington when he gave me my degree.

Why on earth should you?
I thought he was a life peer.

Even in the mad world that revolves around royal protocol, that surely wouldn't be expected?

I'm sure I have read somewhere that the Queen doesn't mind whether people curtsey or not - it is their choice, if they want to, but she doesn't expect it.

Does anyone remember the scene from 'dinnerladies' where Dolly and Jean are practising their curtseys in advance of the royal visit, and Tony talks about groin muscles snapping all over the place.

My colleague said afterwards that she had no idea what came over her - thought too much exposure to Disney princesses might have been a factor This story is everything!

It's subservient bollocks IMHO. They're just people, they go to the toilet just like the rest of us.

Besides which I have balance/coordination issues and don't think I could even pull off a curtsey without wobbling.

they go to the toilet just like the rest of us.

But .....do they? In my fantasy world, none of the gorgeous guys on my radar bother with such mundane bodily functions

Apparently the Queen once said she could see Cherie Blair’s knees visibly stiffen when they met, so determined was CB to not curtsey. 😄

Ha that made me laugh

I wouldn't curtsey to anyone for preference, but if forced pushed would possibly agree to curtsey to our own monarch, but not to any other of our royals or anyone else's royals.

Technically we are subjects of the Queen, not citizens of a republic, so logically one would curtsey to HM, but there's no rhyme nor reason to curtsey to anyone else at all, as we aren't their subjects.

Americans bend the knee to nobody except god.

I noticed that too, @Jemihap - it did look odd. I am generally a fan of the royals and greatly admire and respect the Queen, but I do think curtsying is a bit outdated now and I wouldn't do it I don’t think. I read an article about which royals should curtesy to each other and the hierarchy and when Kate is with William I think the protocol changes etc, I did wonder if they really go round curtsying to each other behind closed doors. Same as I wonder if you work at the Palace and you bump into a royal in the corridor do you curtesy? What about if you have just cleaned the royal loo? You meet them coming in to use it? I just can’t see that they do all that bobbing behind closed doors?

Ive just read curtesy too many times. It now sounds like a made up word.

Absolutely not ,not even to the Queen. I have respect for the Queen but draw the line at doing a curtsey .I think the Royal family is outdated and too privileged and would much rather we were a republic but can't see that ever happening.

Regardless of "respect", I think curtseying is a really weird thing to do if you aren't in a long skirt or gown. It looks so weird. Look at all the pictures of Theresa May looking like Smeagol as she does it!

If you don't want to curtsey in front of the Royals, then don't do it... DUH!!!!!!

This is just one of the many internal conflicts I live with.

Politically a republican, curtseying is outdated, the royals including the Queen do not demand it etc

But I would LOVE to curtsey to the Queen. I think she personally is incredible and I have enormous admiration for her personally.

A colleague of mine had to meet and greet the Queen plus Duke of Edinburgh at a stately home with Royal connections. She was very nervous but all was going well until the D of E told her off for getting the etiquette wrong. Apparently she’d referred to the Queen incorrectly and he was incredibly patronising and rude.

I know, hard to believe coming from him! 😂

I had no intention of curtseying to Lord Pilkington when he gave me my degree.

There was a tiny intake of breath from the audience.

I don't think anyone in the world would be curtseying to Lord Pilkington! He's never been a member of the Royal Family.