Would you bow or curtsy to royalty in a social setting?

[WhatWouldGinDo]

If you met a member of the RF in a social situation where you are there in the same capacity (e.g. you're another mum watching your DC play sport, or you're at a private house as you have mutual friends), should you bow/curtsy? And should you address them as YM /YRH when you're introduced.

It's not happened to me yet (only met them when they're working and therefore did curtsy/YRH them) but I've always been intrigued what people if they end up sitting next to them at the school concert.

Pretty sure I would just go for it, curtsy instantly, because I practiced curtsying sooo well when I was a child and have never once had the opportunity to use it 50 years since 😂!!

@EvelynBeatrice That definitely doesn't seem like to much to ask!

I also think that titles and styles should be linked to being a working royal and kept after retirement only if the person behaves discreetly and after several decades (maybe linked to the number of NI contributions us 'little people' have to make to get full state pensions).

I wouldn't mind the children of people in the direct line of succession having prince/princess and styles but it would go (along with any Duke/Princess Royal, etc) if they didn't work for the family.

When the King was in New York at the "urban farm" in Harlem, some of the children trying to get his attention were calling "Mr. King, Mr. King." He seemed to love it.

HRHs don't curtsy or bow to each other as they are the same rank whether by blood of marriage. Precedence is a different matter (as in who enters a room first, etc.)

Even family members who are not royal don't appear to bow or curtsy to anyone other than the King and Queen, if recent events such as Ascot are any indication.

I forgot to say that this is what we were told to do by her protocol officer(?) As it happens, it's what I would have done, anyway. Though I would probably have called her Mrs Windsor, not knowing her chosen surname. Not that I've ever actually spoken to her.

Some colleagues were disappointed that they don't get to bob at a celeb. They're the ones who rush to get a peep when she turns up. Tasteless behaviour IMO. Several of the republican types have far better manners and behave more decorously.

A friend of ours has hosted Kate and William at a sporting event a few times. He says behind the scenes, they’re very friendly and William especially is very relaxed (and he calls her Kate).

I like that

Hardly the same I know, but it reminds me of taking a class of juniors to Chatsworth years ago when Debo was the duchess, and when she came to meet the kids she asked me quietly not to use her title because, she said, they'd no longer be natural with her

She was right too; a passing member of staff used it, and immediately the happy chatter stopped and the silly questions began

We had a Duke and Duchess (non-royal) visit our school once upon a different century ago, and you would have thought it was the Second Coming with the fuss that was made, the protocol lessons, the careful vetting of who was allowed to be in the classrooms they visited. It was very painful - even as a 12 yr old, it felt weirdly subservient.

Well, if The King or the Princess of Wales ever stop by for a cuppa, I shall not bow/curtsey, I won't Your Maj/Your RH them, but shall call them "Chaz" and "Kate". However, I may still get out the good china (or at least cup without chips in it)😄and they would definitely the chocolate biccies. (But then, everyone who comes to my house does. Who wants to be fobbed off with a plain digestive?!?)