Bowing and Curtseying


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sarahedwards2 said:
When I was a kid I thought only commoners bowed and curtsied to royals; I didn’t think royals bowed and curtsied at all.
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Princes and princesses usually curtsy/bow to kings and queens, imcluding kings/queens of other countries. Princes/princesses nowadays do not normally curtsy/bow to each other though,
 
Mbruno said:
Princes and princesses usually curtsy/bow to kings and queens, imcluding kings/queens of other countries. Princes/princesses nowadays do not normally curtsy/bow to each other though,
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It depends a bit on the country. In the Netherlands the other members of the royal family do not curtsy to Willem-Alexander and Máxima. They might curtsy to majesties of other royal families but it is not a tradition in the Netherlands itself. Members of the public aren't expected to curtsy either. Some (men and women) might nod their head but that's about it.
 
Somebody said:
It depends a bit on the country. In the Netherlands the other members of the royal family do not curtsy to Willem-Alexander and Máxima. They might curtsy to majesties of other royal families but it is not a tradition in the Netherlands itself. Members of the public aren't expected to curtsy either. Some (men and women) might nod their head but that's about it.
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Yes, I find it interesting how princes and princesses for example in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden do not normally curtsy/bow to their own kings/queens, but curtsy/bow to foreign kings and queens.

In fact, British and Danish princes/princesses are the only ones among the European reigning families who consistently bow/curtsy to their own king or queen. Members of the Spanish royal family also used to bow/curtsy to the king and queen during King Juan Carlos I's reign, but that seems to have changed under King Felipe VI.
 
Mbruno said:
Yes, I find it interesting how princes and princesses for example in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden do not normally curtsy/bow to their own kings/queens, but curtsy/bow to foreign kings and queens.

In fact, British and Danish princes/princesses are the only ones among the European reigning families who consistently bow/curtsy to their own king or queen. Members of the Spanish royal family also used to bow/curtsy to the king and queen during King Juan Carlos I's reign, but that seems to have changed under King Felipe VI.
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In Spain, members of the royal family still make bow/curtsy to the King and Queen.
 
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sarahedwards2 said:
When I was a kid I thought only commoners bowed and curtsied to royals; I didn’t think royals bowed and curtsied at all.
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Only depending on rank ,Prince/Princess to a King or Queen/Emperor/Empress.
 
Mbruno said:
Yes, I find it interesting how princes and princesses for example in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden do not normally curtsy/bow to their own kings/queens, but curtsy/bow to foreign kings and queens.

In fact, British and Danish princes/princesses are the only ones among the European reigning families who consistently bow/curtsy to their own king or queen. Members of the Spanish royal family also used to bow/curtsy to the king and queen during King Juan Carlos I's reign, but that seems to have changed under King Felipe VI.
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Members of the Spanish Royal Family all curtsy/bow ,you only have to look at the footage from the Memorial Mass of the kings late cousin.
The Greek RF also curtsy/bow
 
I think the monarchies that maintain the bowing and curtseying tradition the most are the United Kingdom, Denmark and Spain.
 
During the Belgian State Visit to Denmark no one of our politics bows to the Queen.
Bowing and cutseying are not a tradition anymore un our Country.
For a Royal Mass at the Cathedral , we are standing for the arrival of the Royals. thats all.
During the Funerals of Queen Fabiola , there was a sreen and for some Royals people were standing for others not.
 
maria-olivia said:
During the Belgian State Visit to Denmark no one of our politics bows to the Queen.
Bowing and cutseying are not a tradition anymore un our Country.
For a Royal Mass at the Cathedral , we are standing for the arrival of the Royals. thats all.
During the Funerals of Queen Fabiola , there was a sreen and for some Royals people were standing for others not.
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Sadly the Belgian RF has done away with a lot of Monarchical traditions and customs.
 
What is new is that Queen Mathilde is Majesté. Before they said Sire, Madame , Sire, Mevrouw.
 
Mbruno said:
Yes, I find it interesting how princes and princesses for example in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden do not normally curtsy/bow to their own kings/queens, but curtsy/bow to foreign kings and queens.
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King Carl Gustav abolished the court curtsey when he ascended the throne in 1973. The reason was that he felt embarrassed about ladies older than himself curtseying to him. Many people, among others members of the court, do still greet the King and Queen with a short bob although it's use among the general public is decreasing depending on what generation you belong to.
 
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The first are Felipe and Letizia, the fourth Haakon and Mette Marit.

The Dutch seldomly curtsey; they do towards the flag on Prinsjesdag and apparently also on this exceptional occasion. I wonder whether they curtsey/bow towards the queen or towards the altar.
 
Somebody said:
The first are Felipe and Letizia, the fourth Haakon and Mette Marit.

The Dutch seldomly curtsey; they do towards the flag on Prinsjesdag and apparently also on this exceptional occasion. I wonder whether they curtsey/bow towards the queen or towards the altar.
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Do Protestants bow towards the altar? Apparently Anglicans do, as I have seen members of the British Royal Family do it many times, but for Calvinists like the Dutch Royal Family, I suppose that would be unusual. Calvinist churches don't even have an "altar" strictly speaking and, in any case, the altar is not the center of Reformed Church services nor is church seating organized to face an altar as in Catholic churches.

For Catholics, the custom would be to "curtsy" to the altar, rather than to bow. Technically it should be deeper than an actual curtsy as one knee should touch the floor, but most people I know just curtsy instead without going as low as touching the floor . Technically also, you should only do it when the consecrated elements are stored behind the altar, but that is normally the case in churches before and immediately after a celebration of the mass for example.

Protestants, I believe, do not store non-consumed consecrated elements after a service, nor do they accept the consumption of elements that were consecrated in private since reformers like Luther emphasized that public consecration was a requirement for the validity of the sacrament.

At least that is my understanding not being particularly proficient in Protestant doctrine. I may be wrong.
 
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While most members of the Dutch royal family are Protestant, Máxima is among a significant number who is Roman Catholic.

Upon further reflection, while the Dutch don’t curtsey or bow to each other, princes and princesses tend to curtsey/bow to foreign majesties (for example during state visits). So, that might be the case here. However, I would need to watch the full service to be sure.
 
Somebody said:
While most members of the Dutch royal family are Protestant, Máxima is among a significant number who is Roman Catholic.

Upon further reflection, while the Dutch don’t curtsey or bow to each other, princes and princesses tend to curtsey/bow to foreign majesties (for example during state visits). So, that might be the case here. However, I would need to watch the full service to be sure.
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It was at the end of the ceremony, they turned to the place where the then Queen Beatrix was and bowed. The Queen thanked him with a smile.

See here:
 
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