Why don't the guests in church do that?

[principessa]

When there is a royal marriage or some high royal event like funeral etc, why don't the guests do a bow when a monarch goes through the church to his seat? For example: When Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden will marry, a lot of monarchs will attent the wedding, so f. e. HM King Albert II of the Belgians. When he goes through the church, IMO the guests, who are still in the church, should do a bow, to show her respect. Or what do you think?

[bbb]

i'm not sure this answers your question but i've noticed at some royal events people don't really bow they dip their heads or kinda do a quick bob unless they are being introduced person to person then you see the full bow/curtsy. i'm not sure about the rules in a social setting (wedding or funeral etc) as opposed to an official event. for instance at the 40th BD party, with all the royals there, that would have been alot of bowing up an down all night.

[RubyPrincess168]

It's an interesting question. My answer (guess) would be that a church is "God's House". Most monarchs take some kind of oath to God or the Church. Coronations happen in cathedrals. So to show someone else deference (ie a monarch) before God by bowing/curtseying, or in front of God if you like, would be offense to God. It would probably violate the First Commandment - 'Thous shall have no other Gods before me.".

[magnik]

It would be better if all kings and queens would going together to their sets and other guests in church will do that jus once.
Maybe if there going (kings and queens) in some distance between each other for many people it's hard bowing for all the time/so many times...

[RoyalProtocol]

I think as a general rule guest bow/curtsey to the Sovereign of the realm where the wedding is taking place and perhaps to the bride and groom on the way out of the Church.

If you look at old pictures of Queen Elizabeth IIs wedding there was quite a lot of guests did bow/curtsey to the other Royal guests.

But on the whole it gets a bit beyond things when a procession of possibly 20 crowned heads passses and people try and acknowlege each King or Queen it would be like going on a trampoline.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by RoyalProtocol

I think as a general rule guest bow/curtsey to the Sovereign of the realm where the wedding is taking place and perhaps to the bride and groom on the way out of the Church.

If you look at old pictures of Queen Elizabeth IIs wedding there was quite a lot of guests did bow/curtsey to the other Royal guests.

But on the whole it gets a bit beyond things when a procession of possibly 20 crowned heads passses and people try and acknowlege each King or Queen it would be like going on a trampoline.

At the Wedding of Frederik and Mary the bowed/curtesied when member of the Danish Royal Family entered the Church.

[RoyalProtocol]

If you seen the footage from QEII's Diamond Wedding service you can see the guest in Church curtsey to HM and TRHs

[Rice]

Not a royal wedding, but I saw news footage online of Queen Paola's birthday celebration at Laeken, and a guest curtsied to the Queen when presented to her.

[KingJosh]

I've seen video of HRH Crown Princess Mary's wedding and as she walked down the asle all the guests were bowing/curtseying, also at HM Queen Elizabeth II's coronation all bowed/curtsied as she passed so I would guess that you would bow or curtsy to Royal Highness and Majesties no matter were you are.