Bowing and Curtseying

[sarahedwards2]

Who would Camilla have to curtsy to other than the king perhaps?

This was from before the coronation, but people also complained that her curtsy to the king during the coronation was shallow.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Doña Simoneta Gómez-Acebo curtsies to her cousin King Felipe and aunt Queen Sofia after a funeral Mass in Seville.
La Familia Real dice adiós en Sevilla a Fernando de Borbón y Medina

 

[Blog Real]

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway curtsies to her King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

The Royal Scandinavian on Instagram: "Hennes Kongelige Høyhet Kronprinsessen kan det med å følge kongelig etikette, når hun møter Kongelige i rang over henne🤩🇳🇴🇸🇪 Man må ikke være ikledd galla eller pen klær for å neie👑 ———————————————————————————— H

1,185 likes, 5 comments - theroyal_scandinavian on February 28, 2025: "Hennes Kongelige Høyhet Kronprinsessen kan det med å følge kongelig etikette, når hun møter Kongelige i rang over henne🤩🇳🇴🇸🇪 Man må ikke være ikledd galla eller pen klær for å neie👑 ———————————————————————————— Her Royal...

www.instagram.com

 

[sarahedwards2]

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway curtsies to her King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

The Royal Scandinavian on Instagram: "Hennes Kongelige Høyhet Kronprinsessen kan det med å følge kongelig etikette, når hun møter Kongelige i rang over henne🤩🇳🇴🇸🇪 Man må ikke være ikledd galla eller pen klær for å neie👑 ———————————————————————————— H

1,185 likes, 5 comments - theroyal_scandinavian on February 28, 2025: "Hennes Kongelige Høyhet Kronprinsessen kan det med å følge kongelig etikette, når hun møter Kongelige i rang over henne🤩🇳🇴🇸🇪 Man må ikke være ikledd galla eller pen klær for å neie👑 ———————————————————————————— Her Royal...

www.instagram.com

Curtsies look better in skirts.

 

[Mbruno]

This was from before the coronation, but people also complained that her curtsy to the king during the coronation was shallow.

I suppose that curtsying with a crown on her head might not be that easy, especially at her age. Crowns are notoriously heavy objects. The late Queen Elizabeth II even mentioned once that she had to take extra caution when reading the Queen's speeech not to tilt her head too far or else she risked breaking her neck.

 

[maria-olivia]

Yesterday in Denmark , not a lot of Curtseys . Most of the Guests were young Ladies

 

[An Ard Ri]

The Princess of Wales curtsies to her father in law the King yesterday at Westminster Abbey
Princess Kate performs the perfect curtsy to father-in-law King Charles

 

[sarahedwards2]

The Princess of Wales curtsies to her father in law the King yesterday at Westminster Abbey
Princess Kate performs the perfect curtsy to father-in-law King Charles

I didn’t see it.

 

[Mbruno]

The Princess of Wales curtsies to her father in law the King yesterday at Westminster Abbey
Princess Kate performs the perfect curtsy to father-in-law King Charles

An impeccable curtsy for sure.

 

[fandesacs2003]

Prince Philippos of Greece has visited the UAE. While meeting the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah he bowed.
I could not understand. A Royal Highness bows to another Highness ? Not clear for me. The Sheikh is a Head of State but he is not a King. Would Philippos bow to Prince Albert of Monaco or Grand Duc of Luxembourg ? I don't think so.
Any clue?

From IG of Andreas Megos.

Andreas Megos on Instagram: "Prince Philippos of Greece and Princess Nina were received by H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah at the palace in the city of Saqr bin Mohammed, during the coupl

692 likes, 10 comments - andreas_megos on April 24, 2025: "Prince Philippos of Greece and Princess Nina were received by H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah at the palace in the city of Saqr bin Mohammed, during the couples vitit to the...

www.instagram.com

 

[tdarlene]

Prince Philippos of Greece has visited the UAE. While meeting the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah he bowed.
I could not understand. A Royal Highness bows to another Highness ? Not clear for me. The Sheikh is a Head of State but he is not a King. Would Philippos bow to Prince Albert of Monaco or Grand Duc of Luxembourg ? I don't think so.
Any clue?

From IG of Andreas Megos.

Andreas Megos on Instagram: "Prince Philippos of Greece and Princess Nina were received by H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah at the palace in the city of Saqr bin Mohammed, during the coupl

692 likes, 10 comments - andreas_megos on April 24, 2025: "Prince Philippos of Greece and Princess Nina were received by H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah at the palace in the city of Saqr bin Mohammed, during the couples vitit to the...

www.instagram.com

You answered your own question. the sheik is a head of state. A highness only bows to another highness if the other is a head of state. yes, Philippos would have to bow to prince Albert of Monaco or Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

 

[fandesacs2003]

You answered your own question. the sheik is a head of state. A highness only bows to another highness if the other is a head of state. yes, Philippos would have to bow to prince Albert of Monaco or Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

Yes but... in the funeral of late King Konstantine ... , CP Pavlos did not bow to GD Henri of Luxembourg, So? Who did correctly ? Pavlos or Philippos?

 

[Biri]

Yes but... in the funeral of late King Konstantine ... , CP Pavlos did not bow to GD Henri of Luxembourg, So? Who did correctly ? Pavlos or Philippos?

Philippos.

While arriving to the Wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Rajwa, Princess Beatrice of York bowed to Kin Abdullah II.

 

[Somebody]

Yes but... in the funeral of late King Konstantine ... , CP Pavlos did not bow to GD Henri of Luxembourg, So? Who did correctly ? Pavlos or Philippos?

Did Pavlos bow to other heads of states at the funeral? At the funeral he was the host, head of the Greek Royal Family, having taken over the role from his father the king, so a very different occasion and role.

 

[fandesacs2003]

Did Pavlos bow to other heads of states at the funeral? At the funeral he was the host, head of the Greek Royal Family, having taken over the role from his father the king, so a very different occasion and role.

Of course he did. He bowed to his cousin King Felipe, Queen Margrete, King Wilhelm Alexander, King Philippe etc. He bowed to all Kings and Queens who attended the funeral. But he didn't bow to GD Henri.

Philippos.

While arriving to the Wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Rajwa, Princess Beatrice of York bowed to Kin Abdullah II.

She didn't bow she.curtseyd. Thats the protocol. Even id i think that Jordan royals don't perform often bows and curtseys

 

[meeralakshmi]

@royaltyandprotocol on Instagram: "💥Double curtsies🤩 A cute moment during the visit of Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess Consort of Austria-Este👸🏼to Brazil🔰 when she received a slight curtsey from the cartoon character Smurfette🤩, she returned

911 likes, 10 comments - royaltyandprotocol on December 1, 2024: "💥Double curtsies🤩 A cute moment during the visit of Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess Consort of Austria-Este👸🏼to Brazil🔰 when she received a slight curtsey from the cartoon character Smurfette🤩, she returned the kindness...

www.instagram.com

A precious clip of Smurfette and Princess Astrid of Belgium curtsying to each other She was visiting children at a Brazilian hospital during her economic mission and the hospital decided to provide her and the kids with a nod to her homeland.

 

[Mbruno]

@royaltyandprotocol on Instagram: "💥Double curtsies🤩 A cute moment during the visit of Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess Consort of Austria-Este👸🏼to Brazil🔰 when she received a slight curtsey from the cartoon character Smurfette🤩, she returned

911 likes, 10 comments - royaltyandprotocol on December 1, 2024: "💥Double curtsies🤩 A cute moment during the visit of Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess Consort of Austria-Este👸🏼to Brazil🔰 when she received a slight curtsey from the cartoon character Smurfette🤩, she returned the kindness...

www.instagram.com

A precious clip of Smurfette and Princess Astrid of Belgium curtsying to each other She was visiting children at a Brazilian hospital during her economic mission and the hospital decided to provide her and the kids with a nod to her homeland.

The Smurfs of course is a Belgian comic franchise originally created by Peyo (Pierre Culliford).

 

[Tatiana Maria]

@royaltyandprotocol on Instagram: "💥Double curtsies🤩 A cute moment during the visit of Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess Consort of Austria-Este👸🏼to Brazil🔰 when she received a slight curtsey from the cartoon character Smurfette🤩, she returned

911 likes, 10 comments - royaltyandprotocol on December 1, 2024: "💥Double curtsies🤩 A cute moment during the visit of Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess Consort of Austria-Este👸🏼to Brazil🔰 when she received a slight curtsey from the cartoon character Smurfette🤩, she returned the kindness...

www.instagram.com

A precious clip of Smurfette and Princess Astrid of Belgium curtsying to each other She was visiting children at a Brazilian hospital during her economic mission and the hospital decided to provide her and the kids with a nod to her homeland.

How adorable! Princess Astrid's sense of fun is certainly underrated.

 

[meeralakshmi]

How adorable! Princess Astrid's sense of fun is certainly underrated.

I hope she knows how proud her namesake grandma would be of her.

As has been pointed out in this thread and others queen consorts are bowed/curtsied to but prince consorts aren’t because the protocol is that an HRH only has to bow/curtsy to an HM, not another HRH even if they’re a consort. In my opinion the solution to this is to make any consort an HM regardless of whether they’re a king/queen or a prince/princess (so if Máxima were to only hold her official title of princess of the Netherlands and not her courtesy title of HM Queen Máxima she could still be bowed/curtsied to if she was styled HM The Princess of the Netherlands for example). If you are a consort of a Majesty you should also be a Majesty even if the government doesn’t want to grant you the title of king/queen consort.

 

[iceflower]

The Duchess of Edinburgh and King Charles at the Royal Windsor Flower Show today - she's amazing!


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 **

 

[meeralakshmi]

I know non-royal heads of state aren't required to bow/curtsy to royal ones but are non-royal consorts (such as Melania Trump) required to do so? I'm guessing no, at least in the US spouses of government officials share their ranks.

 

[CrownPrincessJava]

No, as the same rule applies to spouses of Heads of State in republics - they assume the same rank of their husband/wife who is the Head of State. Melania Trump didn't curtsey to HLM QEII and I am certain Mrs Macron didn't either.

 

[meeralakshmi]

No, as the same rule applies to spouses of Heads of State in republics. Melania Trump didn't curtsey to HLM QEII and I am certain Mrs Macron didn't either.

Brigitte is a royal and non-royal consort, she is the first lady of France and the princess consort (I think) of Andorra.

 

[CrownPrincessJava]

I have not been able to find a reference to Princess of Andorra. Since it's a diarchy, it may not have the concept of Consort. Even if it does, her title as First Lady of France outranks it

 

[JR76]

I have not been able to find a reference to Princess of Andorra. Since it's a diarchy, it may not have the concept of Consort. Even if it does, her title as First Lady of France outranks it

I don't think that the good citizens of Andorra would take positively to being seen as being outranked by the citizens of France.
All sovereign states are equal as are all heads of states.

 

[meeralakshmi]

Are deputies of non-royal heads of state and their consorts required to bow/curtsy to anyone?

 

[natawa]

No, as the same rule applies to spouses of Heads of State in republics - they assume the same rank of their husband/wife who is the Head of State. Melania Trump didn't curtsey to HLM QEII and I am certain Mrs Macron didn't either.

Mrs Macron was doing curtsied Queen of Denmark Margrethe. Carla Bruni was doing curtsied Queen Elizabeth II. President of Island was doing curtsier for King Frederik last visin on autumm.
So there is no rules here but respect.

 

[meeralakshmi]

Mrs Macron was doing curtsied Queen of Denmark Margrethe. Carla Bruni was doing curtsied Queen Elizabeth II. President of Island was doing curtsier for King Frederik last visin on autumm.
So there is no rules here but respect.

Mette-Marit curtsied to Obama out of respect.

 

[JR76]

Are deputies of non-royal heads of state and their consorts required to bow/curtsy to anyone?

Nobody is required to bow or curtsey to anyone. It's all a matter of personal choice.

 

[Blog Real]

Princess Astrid of Belgium curtsying to the Emperor of Japan:

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2219462376/photo/emperor-naruhito-and-empress-masako-welcoming-princess-astrid-of-belgium.jpg?s=2048x2048&w=gi&k=20&c=-STPBVTvgu06cazgsAYO8fycE1eSR6pHysrlYwOlWAk=

Infanta Elena of Spain curtsying to the King Felipe VI today:

Revista Diez Minutos on Instagram: "El rey #FelipeVI saluda cariñosamente a su hermana, la #InfantaElena, a su llegada al 50 aniversario de la Fundación MAPFRE. El rey Felipe VI y su hermana la infanta Elena han vuelto a coincidir en un acto público

1,781 likes, 46 comments - revistadiezminutos on June 12, 2025: "El rey #FelipeVI saluda cariñosamente a su hermana, la #InfantaElena, a su llegada al 50 aniversario de la Fundación MAPFRE. El rey Felipe VI y su hermana la infanta Elena han vuelto a coincidir en un acto público, en este caso...

www.instagram.com