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The royal family
Original poster

Does Camilla have to curtsey to Charles?

100 replies

Pinkrosesbloom · 12/12/2022 16:34

...and Kate to William?

saw this in the news, and it seems protocol requires girlfriends to curtsey to royals.

“When I was researching my biography of King Charles, I discovered his female staff were running a competition to see who could perform the deepest curtsey without falling over.

A former girlfriend of his also confided that protocol demanded she curtsey to him, leading one evening to a clash of heads when he mistimed an attempt to kiss her.”

did Camilla and Kate curtsey to Charles/William when they were dating?

And does it stop after they marry?

and what about the children, do they need to curtsey to their royal father? Or are they exempt because they are born royal?

does anyone know the protocols?

OP posts:
WomanhoodIsABirthright · 12/12/2022 16:37

I don't know but would be interested to find out.

I think they do curtsey to each other, wasn't there an issue with me-again not wanting to curtsey to Kate?

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 12/12/2022 16:39

Thank goodness I’m not a Royal!

I have bad knees. I’d curtesy once and never get up again.

thebellagio · 12/12/2022 16:39

isn't it something like they have to curtsey to 'blood royals' if they are on their own, but if their husband is there it's the other way around

So wouldn't Kate (married into the family) have to curtsy to Beatrice/Eugenie, but if William was in the room, they would have to curtsy to her because her rank then elevates with him?

Something along those lines - so yes, Meghan would have had to curtsey to Kate because Kate's status was higher

thebellagio · 12/12/2022 16:40

I'm sure it was in last season of the crown when Diana walked into a room and forgot to curtsy to anyone, and Charles had to tell her to look around the room every time she enters a room.

Frapped · 12/12/2022 16:43

WomanhoodIsABirthright · 12/12/2022 16:37

I don't know but would be interested to find out.

I think they do curtsey to each other, wasn't there an issue with me-again not wanting to curtsey to Kate?

What normal human would feel comfortable curtseying to their sil?

pinneddownbytabbies · 12/12/2022 16:47

Oh honestly.

Yes, I'm sure they have to bow and scrape to one another all the time, otherwise it's off to the Tower with them, and a flogging to teach them the error of their ways.

Original poster
Pinkrosesbloom · 12/12/2022 16:52

That’s a good point. What happens if they don’t do it. Do they get reprimanded? Cold shouldered?

the research I quoted was from a recent book on Charles, so I assume these traditions are still in place?

I was intrigued by Charles girlfriend having to bow to him because of protocol...and wondered what happens when they get married...

OP posts:
stuntbubbles · 12/12/2022 16:53

What happens if they don’t do it. Do they get reprimanded? Cold shouldered?
They get briefed against to the papers and end up leaving the Firm because the whole thing is insane and fucked up.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 12/12/2022 16:55

No, Camilla doesn't have to curtsey to Charles - but she does have to walk behind him on formal occasions.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 12/12/2022 16:57

That’s a good point. What happens if they don’t do it. Do they get reprimanded?

No formal reprimand as the whole thing is based on courtesy, not law. A 'quiet word in the ear' would be said.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 12/12/2022 16:57

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 12/12/2022 16:57

That’s a good point. What happens if they don’t do it. Do they get reprimanded?

No formal reprimand as the whole thing is based on courtesy, not law. A 'quiet word in the ear' would be said.

“Off with his head!!”

thebellagio · 12/12/2022 16:59

Frapped · 12/12/2022 16:43

What normal human would feel comfortable curtseying to their sil?

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But equally if you are knowingly marrying into a royal family, you surely by implication accept their customs and traditions?

CoffeeBoy · 12/12/2022 16:59

Maybe William and Kate will scrap it all.

AuntieMarys · 12/12/2022 17:00

Utterly ridiculous, the whole thing.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 12/12/2022 17:01

thebellagio · 12/12/2022 16:59

But equally if you are knowingly marrying into a royal family, you surely by implication accept their customs and traditions?

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That's what it relies on - if you accept a title yourself you are tacitly accepting all the nonsense protocol that accompanies it, including bowing to your superiors in rank.

WomanhoodIsABirthright · 12/12/2022 17:03

I'm sure she expected people to defer to her once she got her title (staff said so), so she really should have followed the protocol.

I think a lot of her strop back to America was because she couldn't stand coming second to Kate.

greenhousegal · 12/12/2022 17:04

I thought this curtsey business was not mandatory anyway. Load of blx but I'd say it only happens on formal occasions if the curtseyer meets the curtseyee. LOL.

Notaninterestingfact · 12/12/2022 17:05

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SenecaFallsRedux · 12/12/2022 17:05

There is quite a bit of misinformation on this subject out there. It stems from a confusion between precedence (the order in which people process or enter a room) and bowing protocol. Before Camilla was married to Charles, technically she would have been expected to courtesy to him as she was a commoner and he was a prince. She is Queen now so she doesn't have to curtsy to anybody, although, if I remember correctly, there may be a slight bowing of the head or some such from her to him at the coronation.

People of the same rank don't bow or curtsy to each other. So the HRHs don't bow or curtsy to each other. For example, Beatrice is not expected to curtsy to william, even though he is ahead of her in precedence.

KirstenBlest · 12/12/2022 17:06

Are you planning on dating P Andrew, @Pinkrosesbloom ?

stuntbubbles · 12/12/2022 17:10

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🥴

SenecaFallsRedux · 12/12/2022 17:10

I think they do curtsey to each other, wasn't there an issue with me-again not wanting to curtsey to Kate?

No there wasn't. Because Meghan was not expected to courtesy to anyone but the Queen. HRHs don't bow and curtsy to each other.

The only exception to this is that there are a couple of video clips showing Kate doing a mild dip to Prince Philip. But protocol did not demand that. She did it as a special honor to him.

Frapped · 12/12/2022 17:13

thebellagio · 12/12/2022 16:59

But equally if you are knowingly marrying into a royal family, you surely by implication accept their customs and traditions?

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We should just close MN down now. That's 90% of threads answered.

If a woman marries into her husband's family, she should just accept their rules. Every time..no room for her to have an opinion or do anything different.

Frapped · 12/12/2022 17:14

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Fucking hell.

antelopevalley · 12/12/2022 17:17

Frapped · 12/12/2022 17:13

We should just close MN down now. That's 90% of threads answered.

If a woman marries into her husband's family, she should just accept their rules. Every time..no room for her to have an opinion or do anything different.

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It is always the case that those of a lower class, are supposed to accept the manners and culture of the upper class.
This is based on the idea that the upper class are inherently better, which does not stand up to any scrutiny at all.
It is totally bollocks.