State Visit from the President of the United States: November 18-21, 2003

timtonruben359 · Nov 19, 2003

Originally posted by Alexandria@Nov 19th, 2003 - 10:42 pm

But what about when Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip visited Norway? There was a lot of chat about how good Mette-Marit's curtsey to the Queen was. And there were also pictures of Queen Sonja and Martha Louise bowing to the Queen, too.

Royalty is another story.

For example:

If the Prince of Wales goes to the Netherlands he would be expected to bow to Queen Beatrix as she outranks him (as do all Monarchs).

If Princess Victoria of Sweden visited Queen Elizabeth II she would be expected to curtsey to the Queen.

But if Queen Elizabeth II visits Queen Margrethe they would greet by kissing each cheek.

Now if Princess Anne visited she would curtsey to the King, the Queen, Princess Victoria, Prince Carl and Princess Madeleine as she is lower in position then all of them when it comes to her place in the line to the British Throne.

Queen Sonja curtsied to Queen Elizabeth II because she is only Queen consort, not a reigning Monarch.

So if you're a reigning monarch you don't bow or curtsey to anyone. From there on you bow or curtsey to anyone who is above you. So if you're the heir you only bow to Monarchs, if you're 8th in line to a throne, you bow or curtsey to anyone in any royal family who is above you, unless they are under 18 (or the age a majority in the country).

Most European courts have really gotten rid of this tradition, but the British court still expects people to bow and curtsey and they bow and curtsey to each other. When Queen Elizabeth II enters a room where her whole family is gathered all her children, grandchildren, and cousins bow or curtsey to her, I don't know many other royal families that do this.

Blue Star · Nov 19, 2003

The Queen looks so elegant and frail next to my country's tall, healthy redneck of a president. I didn't quite understand why Europeans looked down on Bush as a "cowboy" until seeing those pictures. I can see it now. Bush has raw power, but little grace.

Those pictures are a shock to the senses. I even thought for a second that they'd been created digitally.

Edit: Also, as I was going to say, I suspect it's usually a matter of pride for Americans not to bow to European royalty. Personally I'd be very respectful, but I certainly wouldn't curtsey, and I don't think many other Americans would either. Because of our history, Americans tend to be assertive and independent. Them Europeans ain't no better than us folks! And it's even true. No Queen deserves a curtsy from me, unless she's willing to curtsy back.

sandee · Nov 19, 2003

VERY INTERESTING! President Bush is distantly related to the British Royals..and Winston Churchill

From The BBC NEWS site...

Relative history links Royals with Bush

A distant relation that connects the families of Prince William and US President George W Bush - as well as Winston Churchill - has been discovered by a firm putting genealogical information online.
The company came across the link between the Royal Family, the Bush dynasty and Britain's most famous war-time prime minister during research to put Victorian censuses and other family history documents online.

Researchers from the firm traced all three families back to Henry Spencer who lived in Badby, Northamptonshire, during the 15th century.

The first census being put online will be the one collected in 1891. Other censuses dating back to the first in 1841 will slowly be added over the next few months.

Ancient ties

The news about the common Northamptonshire beginnings of Prince William, George Bush and Winston Churchill was released by US genealogy site MyFamily.com.

It is not the first time a link has been made between President Bush and Churchill.

Dennism · Nov 20, 2003

" There's been a lot of talk about George, but what about Mrs Bush? Personally I like her very much. She's intelligent and graceful, never getting herself in a muddle like her poor hubby. Her clothes are on the elegant side too"

All true. You can see also see how her quite but determined manner was a rock in the storm that was W.'s life. She always seems very calm. And she dresses elegantly for a first lady too.

Martine · Nov 20, 2003