Bowing and Curtseying - Page 134

Alondra · #**2661** 07-20-2017, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

No, Beatrice and Eugenie are princesses of the blood royal, HRH's alike their aunt and uncles. And a reverence is always optional, never an obligation. For me -a conservative royalist- curtsies better should be abolished. I found it very awkward to see a royalborn Anne going through her knees for the girl-next-door.

Reverences worked since ladies like Sofía, Frederika, Joséphine-Charlotte, etc. were princesses of the blood royal themselves. These times are over. It was equally awkward to see former newsreader Letizia going through her knees for former banker Máxima. Then it has become a vaudeville, a part of the "oh yes, let us pretend I am higher born and you go down the knees for me"-play.

Better do it like Wimbledon: end the circus. I love traditions but these need to have a real meaning. What is next? The Princess Royal going down her knees for a former waitress from Kristiansand?

I'm speechless to the sheer snobbery of your post. You know this is 2017 and mixing royal blood lines, as in the past, is genetically a NO NO?

By all means lets end once and for all bowing and curtsying:-

1. This is 2017, and

2. This practice should be obsolete in democratic countries independently if they are a republic or a constitutional monarchy.

More importantly lets end it, not because a former newsreader, a former banker and a lawyer (Mary) are not good enough to be queens, but because this custom denotes servilism and should be obsolete in today's European's societies.

And while discussing obsolete, lets also end the practice of some European countries of giving countless "flower bouquets" to royals ending up in the rubbish bin whilst the flower industry in Europe keeps sucking up water resources it can no longer be sustainable by the planet.

You may be stuck in the 1800/1900. The rest of us moved on.

AdmirerUS · #**2662** 07-20-2017, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudolph

Princess Charlotte dropping a curtsey like a Boss

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DFFt-OZX...jpg&name=large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DFFuHCyW...jpg&name=large

Well her shoulders were not square and a REAL lady has a much deeper dip.

Bryce · #**2663** 07-23-2017, 03:01 PM

Prince Charles gives King Felipe a double kiss and head bob when they meet.
Camilla gives a kiss and curtsy to each.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pfwc5sH7JBY

I notice too that Prince Philip gives His Majesty a head bob. No so for Queen Letizia who is of the same rank as he. See time frame 5:00.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdsCcfAWboY

Rudolph · #**2664** 07-31-2017, 12:53 PM

Nice to see the Prime Minister curtsey to members of the royal family

Mbruno · #**2665** 07-31-2017, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eya

Prime Minister Theresa May curtsey in Belgium to Prince Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

http://0.t.cdn.belga.be/belgaimage:1...c89&m=amgbmejp
http://1.t.cdn.belga.be/belgaimage:1...c89&m=cdbdkobi
http://2.t.cdn.belga.be/belgaimage:1...c89&m=cdmpefih

However, yesterday, when she met King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, she bowed only rather than curtsying. Well, it is still better than nothng, I guess.

Rudolph · #**2666** 07-31-2017, 02:10 PM

I wouldn't expect the British PM to curtsey to foreign royals. It's right she did for Charles, William and Catherine though.

ROYAL NORWAY · #**2667** 07-31-2017, 02:13 PM

She only curtsey to the Queen and members of the British royal family. She didn't curtsey to Felipe and Letizia either.

Mbruno · #**2668** 07-31-2017, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudolph

I wouldn't expect the British PM to curtsey to foreign royals. It's right she did for Charles, William and Catherine though.

If the princesses of the United Kingdom curtsy to foreign kings (remember Anne at the Spanish state visit ?), why shouldn't the PM, who is far lower in precedence ? I don't want to have an argument about that though.

Moonmaiden23 · #**2669** 07-31-2017, 03:23 PM

Not only British princes and princesses. I have a VHS tape from the late 80's early 90's done by a British documentary film maker who visited the Palace of Laeken to interview then King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola. (Baudouin: A King for Europe)

He presented the deepest, most reverent bow to their late Majesties when he met them.

Perhaps he was better mannered than Ms. May.

Rudolph · #**2670** 07-31-2017, 03:37 PM

Did Hilary Clinton ever curtsey to a royal? It makes sense for PM May to curtsey to her own royals but it makes no sense ( at least to me) for her to curtsey to royals from a foreign country.

Pranter · #**2671** 07-31-2017, 03:42 PM

Yeah but we are Americans and we generally don't do that whole curtesy thing anyway. It's not a custom found in a Republic.

LaRae

ROYAL NORWAY · #**2672** 07-31-2017, 04:50 PM

Why on earth should the British PM curtsey to foreign royals? Many of the other heads of states/governments and their spouses doesn't bow/curtsey to royals (not even to the QEII).

Yashal · #**2673** 07-31-2017, 05:22 PM

Well, it seems only logical that a head of state doesn't bow down to another one. They are both on the same level, no matter if one of them is "only" elected or if one has been in charge for 40 years and the other one only for four months.

As for the prime ministers, I remember Margaret Thatcher curtseying to Juan Carlos.

Rudolph · #**2674** 07-31-2017, 05:27 PM

Would the Belgium PM bow to the Duchess of Cambridge?

wyevale · #**2675** 07-31-2017, 06:13 PM

Personally I think it appropriate for Ministers and officials to bow/curtsey to any and all reigning Monarchs... in recognition of their office and of their nation..

Moonmaiden23 · #**2676** 07-31-2017, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yashal

Well, it seems only logical that a head of state doesn't bow down to another one. They are both on the same level, no matter if one of them is "only" elected or if one has been in charge for 40 years and the other one only for four months.

As for the prime ministers, I remember Margaret Thatcher curtseying to Juan Carlos.

So do I. I remember it well.

tommy100 · #**2677** 07-31-2017, 07:57 PM

Well having watched todays's events the British PM did curtsey to both the King & Queen of the Belgians (only a tiny dip as such but no less than Camilla does) so I don't think she has anything against curtseying to foreign royals in all circumstances. I guess like anything it just depends.

COUNTESS · #**2678** 07-31-2017, 08:55 PM

Such an archaic and foolish custom. No one is better than the other.

royal rob · #**2679** 07-31-2017, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COUNTESS

Such an archaic and foolish custom. No one is better than the other.

I agree and if I attempted one with my condition I would finish up in a heap at their feet

MARG · #**2680** 08-01-2017, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COUNTESS

Such an archaic and foolish custom. No one is better than the other.

Quote:

Originally Posted by royal rob

I agree and if I attempted one with my condition I would finish up in a heap at their feet

I think referring to a custom that does not apply to your country as "archaic and foolish" is both rude and arrogant. Just like paying compliments to a senior officer in the military does not mean he or she is better than me. I would be saluting the Queen's Commission not the person holding the rank. Nobody is going to make you bow or curtsey and in this century it is mostly up to the individual as to whether they do or don't. Personally, I do and have.

As to creaking bones, most royals would be the last people to expect let alone insist that one bow or curtsey should you either be unable or unwilling to do so. However, I find the necessity to denigrate other countries traditions because they clash with yours, narrow-minded and insulting. Can they not be quaint and interesting and just make you happy they are not your customs?