The curtsy/curtsey

[Shewonticeskateorseesanta]

Apologies if other threads on this, I haven’t noticed specifically about this.
Just watcher the H&M documentary (I’m a little behind)
What were your thoughts on the scene where Meghan describes the curtsey? I just found it uncomfortable watching Harry’s face, was she taking the piss?
Ive no opinion on them either way tbh, but must admit I’m interested in the relationship between them. He always looks so desperate to please/prove he’s doing things right…is this just love for her? Is there something off or am I reading too much into it?

People will see what they want to see.

Money.
Nothing more, nothing less.

It's also ridiculous to think she was genuinely unprepared. Anyone who meets the Queen is quickly briefed beforehand on how to courtesy and address the Queen. That's it. There's not much more to learn. Can't believe Harry didn't tell,her.
She's just making a big deal of it because she resented doing it and thinks it's a ridiculous thing to do - which it probably is but she could.show a bit more respect for her husband's traditions.

Well with the sound turned up she explicitly says her curtsy was ridiculous.

I had occasion to go to the palace once and an aide type person demonstrated to us how to curtsy.

Harry should have helped her more at that point.

BUT if she was taking the piss out of a system where blood relatives bow and curtsy to each other, (and ‘H’ admits it is a bit surreal), well.., isn’t it deserved?

However, it is obvious that in the moment she was describing her unpreparedness for curtsying.

And the hands falling down at the end, very funny, I'll give her that. I do find it weird to have to bow or curtsey to another human being but then I'm not the one who wanted to marry a prince. If I married an eskimo I would respect their customs and try not to mock them in front of my husband and the whole world. Basic lack of respect.

@oakleaffy But do they really need money? Surely he has lots?

Most historical cultural traditions have an element of ridiculousness about them but I’m sure she’d have shown a lot more respect if she’d been faced with them elsewhere in the globe.

But no, easy to take the piss out of the dumb British and our stuffy stupid royal traditions - the same dumb mugs who paid millions in tax and turned out in thousands to wish you well for your beautiful Jo Malone fragranced Windsor wedding extravaganza... What a pair of ungrateful whining narcissists.

Money. Nothing more, nothing less

And nothing wrong with that wrong with that at all. £100 million plus - to put towards a great lifestyle for their family plus I’m sure millions to donate to good causes close to their hearts. And the extent of the “betrayal” of the royal family is a couple of soft criticisms and tongue in cheeks piss takes (like the curtsy controversy) - criticisms of a family that Harry clearly feels was unwelcoming of his wife and mother of his children. Who wouldn’t take it? Fuck em.

Exactly..''When in Rome, do as the Romans do''

Diana used to wear head coverings when entering places where head coverings are 'The expected thing'.

It is basic respect for other people.

But Meghan sees herself as front and foremost in everything.

There is no genuine self depreciation there.

I thought he was uncomfortable because she compared meeting the Queen to visiting a tacky US medieval restaurant chain. It seemed like he thought she was being disrespectful to his gran.

How did they not all welcome her though? And what happened with them and William & Kate? Everyone loved them so much, it seemed great and then…🤷🏻‍♀️

Greed? Meghan burns through money at a rate of knots, I imagine.

Charles was allegedly bailing them out constantly.

I don't think anybody has suggested that?

The OP is commenting on the fact that Harry looked very uncomfortable, which I also picked up on.

Agree Meghan was laughing at herself so I'm not sure why Harry didn't crack a smile. He didn't look happy at all.

She was taking the piss. It was clear from the way she said “Pleasure to meet you your Majesty” and from the way she looked extremely pleased with herself when she shit Harry the side eye.,

I found this re-enactment perplexing because in the Oprah interview she says that Fergie taught her how to curtesy beforehand. Fergie is known for her deep curtsies but I have never seen her fold over at the waist with her arms parallel to the ground.

www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a35757530/meghan-markle-queen-elizabeth-first-curtsy-oprah-interview/

I don't think the RF go about bowing and curtseying to each other - it's a quick bow, or dip to the monarch. Showing respect and courtesy (which the word curtsey derived from) to the HOS, that's all. Footage of other female members of the RF show them doing a quick surreptitious bob, not a dying swan a la Meghan on the sofa.

But Meghan sees herself as front and foremost in everything.

Shes an American from a totally normal background. She played the role for a couple of years but actually finds the traditions of the British aristocracy utterly ridiculous, a point she made in an amusing way with the curtsy reenactment. People are underestimating the huge difference in US/UK culture and values here. Americans might think the bowing and scraping is cute on the TV as a weird British tradition but to actually need to do it in person is undoubtedly weird and uncomfortable for someone from a tradition where inherited privilege/status is seriously frowned upon.

The impression I got was that he was annoyed because she wasn’t being truthful. I doubt she would have been allowed in to see The Queen without being instructed on what to do after which she probably did an alright curtsy. Her elaborate reenactment felt false and exaggerated, which would understandably annoy him. Her “Gee I’m just a huggy wuggy actress, I had no idea!” schtick feels very contrived.

I think Harry looked uncomfortable because she was hamming her story up and overdoing it - he was embarrassed for her

That’s the impression I get, and I’m by no means a Royalist. How is it possible she didn’t know the etiquette, why didn’t Harry explain it to her?

How can people say she was self-deprecating when she compared meeting the Queen with tacky American medieval settings?

She's just making a big deal of it because she resented doing it and thinks it's a ridiculous thing to do - which it probably is but she could.show a bit more respect for her husband's traditions.
I agree with this^ .
All families are different in some way she should be more thoughtful and respectful. I would expect this with any family. Anna probably didn’t curtsy when she saw her own mum, but Meghan was not actually even the part of the family yet, just a GF with unclear prospects.
Meghan could always say : You know Harry, I’m not sure I can do this and be comfortable with this so turn the car and I’m out.
But she didn’t do this.
She wasn’t mocking the Queen personally, not. But she implied that Britain was such a medivial society and of course Americans would understand how she felt as they were so progressive.

Harry went bright red at that bit. I guess he's embarrassed about his family. It's the one time that I've seen a chink in his armour.

She didn’t, she was describing the curtsy she did.

Not even in a complicated way that you could possibly think she was doing anything else tbh.

She was utterly mocking the family Harry comes from. It's a bit like 'it's fine if I mock my family, but don't anybody else dare to'.

It was disrespectful to him. His grandmother is still Granny.