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The royal family

When he becomes King do you think William will put a stop to bowing & curtsying?

118 replies

GertyFreely · 06/05/2026 06:38

The RF seem to curtsy more to each other than members of the public curtsy to them. When William is king, do you think he'll end this tradition?

OP posts:
Effervescentfrothy · 07/05/2026 06:49

CurlewKate · 07/05/2026 06:47

If I ever had the remotest doubts that curtsying needs to go, this image would dispel them. That’s the democratically elected Prime Minister-and that’s not even the King!!

Yes, just awful .

WolfDaysOfMoon · 07/05/2026 07:22

The one thing I’d like William to do is formally introduce the Nolan Principles to the royal household and royal family. These principles are Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, and Leadership.

In my fantasy world, I’d specifically like to see a rule that members of the royal family with a title and/or in receipt of any funding that originates from ‘the public purse’ eg the sovereign grant, or who receive(d) money as an adult from relatives who have benefited from sovereign grant or Duchy monies, must adhere to the Nolan Principles of Public Life, or lose all titles, styles and honours, and lose all funding from the government and royal family coffers (excepting state and occupational pensions accrued honestly). Security needs will be decided by RAVEC.

When I rule this fantasy world, there will be a judge-led committee that investigates dodgy royals and makes recommendations to the monarch, the PM and one other senior judge. If the monarch him/herself is under investigation, the recommendation will be handed to the Heir, PM and judge. Or something along those lines.

Short of becoming a republic, radical change is much more important to me than voluntary mini-performances of bobbing and whatnot.

GertyFreely · 07/05/2026 07:24

Agree with @CurlewKate

Maybe Queen Juliana banned curtseying at the Dutch Court. Anyway, all William and Kate need to do after what I hope will be a low key Coronation, is announce there will be no more curtseying between family members, staff and the people!

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MrsLeonFarrell · 07/05/2026 08:25

CurlewKate · 07/05/2026 06:47

If I ever had the remotest doubts that curtsying needs to go, this image would dispel them. That’s the democratically elected Prime Minister-and that’s not even the King!!

IIRC the negative reaction to this at the time fell on Theresa May not William. She doesn't have to curtsey and off she wanted to a bob would be sufficient.

I'm not sure how William stops people doing this though if they choose to. Briefing notes for meeting royals have said for decades that it isn't necessary and it still happens.

CurlewKate · 07/05/2026 08:31

MrsLeonFarrell · 07/05/2026 08:25

IIRC the negative reaction to this at the time fell on Theresa May not William. She doesn't have to curtsey and off she wanted to a bob would be sufficient.

I'm not sure how William stops people doing this though if they choose to. Briefing notes for meeting royals have said for decades that it isn't necessary and it still happens.

the briefing notes could easily just say “Don’t curtsey.” That’d put an end to this sort of travesty and stop people who should know better making themselves look ridiculous.(TM in this case, not PW)

InterestingDuck · 07/05/2026 08:37

Not2identifying · 06/05/2026 20:36

One of the reasons I dislike the practice, aside from the obsequious nature of it, is how gendered it is. Curtsying is so much more obsequious than bowing and I have dodgy knees so would hate to do it.

I know members of the public don't have to do it but I think it sometimes doesn't help family relations. I think Anne objected to curtsying to Camilla when she married in which is when something was changed so that married ins only have a higher status above blood royals when they are with their spouse. I don't have evidence for you but read it a long time ago!

I don't agree there is much gender difference - a bow can be anything from nodding the head to a full bend of the waist; a curtsey can be anything from a 'bob' - small jerk of the knees - to a full sweeping obeisance.

Also, these days, I doubt anyone would dare to object to a woman bowing or a man curtseying!

I agree though that it's an awful practice and I wouldn't do it if I met a member of the RF. I'd be polite as I am to anyone I meet, but not subservient.

MrsLeonFarrell · 07/05/2026 09:48

CurlewKate · 07/05/2026 08:31

the briefing notes could easily just say “Don’t curtsey.” That’d put an end to this sort of travesty and stop people who should know better making themselves look ridiculous.(TM in this case, not PW)

It could certainly say that, I'm just not convinced it will stop people!

MrsLeonFarrell · 07/05/2026 09:49

InterestingDuck · 07/05/2026 08:37

I don't agree there is much gender difference - a bow can be anything from nodding the head to a full bend of the waist; a curtsey can be anything from a 'bob' - small jerk of the knees - to a full sweeping obeisance.

Also, these days, I doubt anyone would dare to object to a woman bowing or a man curtseying!

I agree though that it's an awful practice and I wouldn't do it if I met a member of the RF. I'd be polite as I am to anyone I meet, but not subservient.

I don't think it's awful, just outdated.

During covid when we weren't allowed to shake hands I used a regency bob to greet people. It made me giggle, them giggle and lightened the mood. As someone who isn't a keen hugger I was sad to stop.

bluegreygreen · 07/05/2026 10:12

That's a great idea! Wish I'd thought of it - as a non-hugger, the personal space was the only benefit of COVID.

whattheflipz · 07/05/2026 12:54

Is this you Meghan ☝️😵‍💫🧐🤣

MrsFinkelstein · 07/05/2026 13:17

ChipsyKing · 06/05/2026 21:01

Idk if you’re Dutch? (I am.)

People are allowed to, and the oldies sometimes do it, but you don’t really see it unless it’s a very formal occasion. Just lots of hand shaking. Which is much more common in the Netherlands than in the UK (eg you would shake someone’s hand the first time you meet them at a party, whereas in the UK that wouldn’t typically be expected!)

I’ve never been anywhere near any of the Dutch Royals but I understand that you can curtsy if you want to but it’s neither required/expected nor explicitly banned.

Sounds exactly like the British RF then.

MrsFinkelstein · 07/05/2026 13:20

CurlewKate · 07/05/2026 06:47

If I ever had the remotest doubts that curtsying needs to go, this image would dispel them. That’s the democratically elected Prime Minister-and that’s not even the King!!

My God, yes the absolute horror of an adult woman choosing to do something. How very dare she.

It's a complicated narrative isn't it?

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 07/05/2026 13:22

It’s no longer required for anyone to bow or curtsey. If people still do it, presumably it’s because they want to.

Mylovelygreendress · 07/05/2026 13:37

whattheflipz · 07/05/2026 12:54

Is this you Meghan ☝️😵‍💫🧐🤣

I am pretty certain “ call me ma’am” Meghan loves people bowing and curtsying to her .

bluegreygreen · 07/05/2026 14:09

Yes - when the Sussexes went to Colombia (2024? - not sure on dates) she was teaching children to curtsy to her on one of their visits.

CurlewKate · 07/05/2026 14:12

MrsFinkelstein · 07/05/2026 13:20

My God, yes the absolute horror of an adult woman choosing to do something. How very dare she.

It's a complicated narrative isn't it?

An elected head of state showing deference to a man half her age who is only her superior by
accident of birth? Yep. Pretty horrible.

bluegreygreen · 07/05/2026 14:41

She had a choice whether or not to do it.

If she wanted to do it, she had a choice whether to do it in an appropriate manner or not.

All her own choices.

Very patronising of anyone to suggest she shouldn't make those choices herself.

RitaIncognita · 07/05/2026 16:07

Very patronising of anyone to suggest she shouldn't make those choices herself.

I'm not so sure about that. In a sense, she represented the people through a democratically elected government, so I think it's quite appropriate for the people to have an opinion on the matter. As for the gendered aspect, it's much more obvious because she seems to be aiming for the ground, while male PMs have generally done the quick neck bow. I think it's wholly appropriate for people to question the optics of this (male or female PM) in a country with an elected representative government.

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