Is it impolite ?

[R_Bee]

I probably wouldn't approach a royal if I saw him/her out in public, because I would feel like I was invading their space. Actually, I wouldn't approach any well-known person (politician, movie star, athlete, etc.) if I saw them while out and about for the same reason. You just never know how well people are going to react to being approached like that, and I wouldn't want to upset anyone. Plus, security would probably try to hurry me away anyway.

[Odette]

Originally Posted by MDS

That's exciting, was she as pretty in reality? Yes, it probably also depends on the size of the country, here in denmark there are rarely barriers, when they go for a walkabout but it's probably a different story in britain for example.

I saw her in Lausanne Switzerland on the street. She looked exactly like the photos and she was beautiful. No one went near her and she was actually walking in the middle of the pedestrian street.
It is an "awkward" feeling to be so close to someone like a royal and I suppose even if someone would talk, I'd lose my voice from the emotion.....BTW I am talking about true royals

[Odette]

Originally Posted by R_Bee

I probably wouldn't approach a royal if I saw him/her out in public, because I would feel like I was invading their space. Actually, I wouldn't approach any well-known person (politician, movie star, athlete, etc.) if I saw them while out and about for the same reason. You just never know how well people are going to react to being approached like that, and I wouldn't want to upset anyone. Plus, security would probably try to hurry me away anyway.

I feel exactly the same way.

[MDS]

Originally Posted by Odette

I saw her in Lausanne Switzerland on the street. She looked exactly like the photos and she was beautiful. No one went near her and she was actually walking in the middle of the pedestrian street.
It is an "awkward" feeling to be so close to someone like a royal and I suppose even if someone would talk, I'd lose my voice from the emotion.....BTW I am talking about true royals

Yes I imagine, I wouldn't know what to say either, if I wasn't prepared. And even if I was I would probably feel I was asking the same questions as everybody else. I mean, they must have heard it all. Unless you have something specific to talk about.

What do you mean; true royals as opposed to what?

[Odette]

As opposed to those who crave the limelight.........

[MDS]

I see what you mean, those aren't very impressing..

[LauraMCS]

Originally Posted by R_Bee

I probably wouldn't approach a royal if I saw him/her out in public, because I would feel like I was invading their space. Actually, I wouldn't approach any well-known person (politician, movie star, athlete, etc.) if I saw them while out and about for the same reason. You just never know how well people are going to react to being approached like that, and I wouldn't want to upset anyone. Plus, security would probably try to hurry me away anyway.

They would feel perfectly entitled to approach you and wouldn't care if they invaded your space. Why should they be treated with more respect than you? They are not special and shouldn't be treated as such.

[Next Star]

I would proably leave the royal alone being that are bothed by so many people.
I have talents that can use if I want to be in the limelight by using them professionally.
Now this title situation if I had a title or titles I would try to make them legal I would
have to go through a process to make the title or titles legal but I were denined I
would use that title or titles as a courstey.

[Odette]

Originally Posted by LauraMCS

They would feel perfectly entitled to approach you and wouldn't care if they invaded your space. Why should they be treated with more respect than you? They are not special and shouldn't be treated as such.

You mean you would approach anyone anywhere because you believe they are your equal? I would not dream of it. Everyone is entitled to their own space and approaching people who do not know me, just because I feel I am entitled to a chat is unthinkable to me.

[kbear]

Originally Posted by sgl

I read in a British publication (I can't remember which one), that unless one is a subject of that particular royal, then one is not required to curtsy when they see a royal on the street or in another public place. I do like to think that if I had the pleasure of meeting a royal in person (i.e. if I was to be introduced to Queen Elizabeth at an event), I would still curtsy. Offering my hand would not seem polite, even though I am not her subject. Has anyone read the same thing?

A handshake is acceptable in this decadent age and is all protocol requires but a curtsey or a bow is considered particularly courteous
(Thats what we were officially told when QE2 visited Aus anyway.

[LauraMCS]

Originally Posted by Odette

You mean you would approach anyone anywhere because you believe they are your equal? I would not dream of it. Everyone is entitled to their own space and approaching people who do not know me, just because I feel I am entitled to a chat is unthinkable to me.

I don't believe I am their equal. I know that I am superior to every one of them in every aspect of life. There is no royal, politician or celebrity who is worthy of respect or even basic politeness but if I chose to approach them I would do so in a hearbeat. The point is that if a famous person or royal wanted to approach a non-royal/famous person for any reason whatsoever there is nothing in the world to protect the non-royal from the intrusion. That is equally unthinkable but it happens every day.

[R_Bee]

Originally Posted by LauraMCS

They would feel perfectly entitled to approach you and wouldn't care if they invaded your space. Why should they be treated with more respect than you? They are not special and shouldn't be treated as such.

No, I don't like having my space invaded, which is why I try to be considerate of other's need to privacy as well. If I really didn't feel like talking to somebody, I would let them know, whether they're royal or not. However, in most cases if someone want to say hi or whatever I try to return it, just because it's the nice thing to do. It has nothing to do with thinking royals deserve more respect than me, or that I am "below" them somehow.

[Odette]

Originally Posted by LauraMCS

I don't believe I am their equal. I know that I am superior to every one of them in every aspect of life.

This is a wonderful , I guess, superiority feeling to have. It helps in life.

There is no royal, politician or celebrity who is worthy of respect or even basic politeness

I beg to differ. There are a lot who earned respect, others don't. But I cannot make a blanket statement like this.

but if I chose to approach them I would do so in a hearbeat. The point is that if a famous person or royal wanted to approach a non-royal/famous person for any reason whatsoever there is nothing in the world to protect the non-royal from the intrusion. That is equally unthinkable but it happens every day.

Since I have never been approached by the royals and the famous and have them intrude in my life, so far, I have no comment on that part of the post.

[Maxie]

The bowing and curtseying thing just comes in handy when one has to meet royals in official functions, I think. I don't see it as bowing to someone of a higher rank, but as a way how things are handled when meeting a royal so that nobody gets uneasy. So if you know you're going to meet with a royal there's no doubt that some palace person will drop by beforehand to fresh up the rules. It's a tradition and well, I have nothing against tradition. So me bowing to a royal doesn't make me a lesser person. It takes a lot more for me to feel like that, to be honest.

As for what to do when meeting a royal in daily life I think there's only one answer: just don't go and greet them. You don't know them and well, normally you don't go by greeting strangers all day either, so...

I do realize that I'm somewhat medieval, no worries...

[Menarue]

Originally Posted by LauraMCS

I don't believe I am their equal. I know that I am superior to every one of them in every aspect of life. There is no royal, politician or celebrity who is worthy of respect or even basic politeness but if I chose to approach them I would do so in a hearbeat. The point is that if a famous person or royal wanted to approach a non-royal/famous person for any reason whatsoever there is nothing in the world to protect the non-royal from the intrusion. That is equally unthinkable but it happens every day.

Very modest too