As the reigning British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II occupies a unique position within the royal hierarchy. While she enjoys immense respect and prestige as the sovereign head of state, the question of whether she bows or curtsies to other members of royalty requires some nuance.
Quick Answers
– The queen does not bow or curtsy to other monarchs and royalty when carrying out official duties as head of state.
– She may choose to nod or bow her head out of courtesy or respect.
– The queen expects other royal family members to bow or curtsy to her in public.
– Royal protocol dictates that commonwealth kings and queens are not required to bow to the British monarch.
– The queen bowed to the coffin of her mother and sister at their funerals but has not been observed bowing publicly to royals otherwise.
– As a female monarch, she may dip into a slight curtsy when greeting other queens.
Queen Elizabeth II has reigned for over 70 years, making her the longest reigning British monarch in history. During her time on the throne, she has interacted with royalty from around the world and navigated complex rules of etiquette. A major point of interest is whether the queen adheres to any formalities when meeting fellow monarchs and members of royal families.
The queen occupies a unique role as the sovereign head of state in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms. She therefore stands at the very apex of the royal hierarchy. Royal protocol dictates that she is not required to bow or curtsy to other kings and queens when carrying out official duties. However, as a courteous gesture, she may choose to nod or bow her head slightly when greeting other monarchs. She also expects her own family members to demonstrate their respect by bowing or curtsying to her during formal occasions.
Who Is Expected to Bow to the Queen?
The expectation that other members of the royal family should bow or curtsy to the queen is rooted in her position as monarch. Royal etiquette states that men should bow from the head only, while women should curtsy when acknowledging the sovereign. The exact protocol depends on the formal setting.
For example, at state banquets, royal dukes are expected to bow to the queen while royal duchesses curtsy. The depth and duration of the bow or curtsy also communicates respect – the lower and slower, the more deferential. Lesser royals may only nod their heads as a sign of respect when greeting or bidding farewell to the queen at informal gatherings.
Younger royal family members also traditionally bow or curtsy to their elders during public facing events. Princess Anne, the queen’s daughter, and Camilla, the queen consort, both curtsy to the monarch at ceremonial occasions such as Trooping the Colour. When Prince William married Kate Middleton in 2011, she was required to curtsy to the queen during the ceremony.
Does the Queen Bow to Other Monarchs?
In her capacity as sovereign, the queen does not bow or curtsy to other kings and queens. This includes monarchs from Commonwealth realms where she is also head of state, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. As the British sovereign, protocol dictates she is their senior. For example, when meeting Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who is also a reigning queen, neither is expected to curtsy.
However, the queen may choose to observe other courtesies when greeting fellow monarchs, such as nodding her head. Occasionally she has been observed extending a very slight curtsy to visiting queens, interpreted as a sign of personal respect between two female sovereigns. But in general, she refrains from bowing or curtsying formally as it would conflict with her preeminent position as British monarch.
Unique Royal Greetings
While she may not bow or curtsy, the queen has developed certain customized greetings for other royals that demonstrate courtesy and cordiality:
| Royalty | Queen’s Greeting Gesture |
| King Harald V of Norway | Kisses his cheek |
| Queen Margrethe II of Denmark | Kisses her cheek |
| King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden | Shakes his hand |
| King Philippe of Belgium | Kisses his cheek |
These gestures offer a warm welcome between royals who may be related or share close ties between their nations. The queen reserves such familiar greetings for monarchs she has known for many years.
Bowing at Royal Funerals
The queen has been observed bowing publicly at the funerals of close family members as a sign of solemn respect. When her sister Princess Margaret died in 2002, the queen bowed her head as the coffin was carried past during the funeral procession. She bowed again after placing a wreath on the coffin inside the chapel.
This breaking of formal protocol illustrated her grief at the loss of her younger sister. She similarly bowed to the coffin of the Queen Mother in 2002, both as it left Westminster Abbey and later during an intimate burial service in St George’s Chapel.
Does the Queen Expect Others to Bow?
While the queen does not bow to kings and queens in her capacity as British monarch, she does expect other members of the royal family to demonstrate their respect through bowing or curtsying.
Royal protocol dictates that the following should bow or curtsy to the queen during formal occasions:
- Senior royals including the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
- Lesser ranking royal dukes and duchesses
- Distant relatives of the queen such as cousins and nephews
- Royals from deposed dynasties like the House of Savoy or the Greek royal family
Younger generations are also expected to bow to their elders. For instance, Princess Charlotte curtsied to the queen during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 despite being only 7 years old.
Foreign Royal Protocol
Royal protocol becomes more complex when the queen interacts with foreign kings, queens, princes, and princesses. Traditional etiquette comes into play, but political considerations may also influence postures of deference.
Members of non-British royal families are expected to bow to the queen during formal introductions and set piece ceremonies. Visiting princes and princesses traditionally bow and curtsy to their hosts as a sign of respect. However, reigning monarchs are not obligated to bow to other sovereigns of equal rank.
At state occasions, the queen expects foreign royalty to adhere to British customs. For example, the Emperor and Empress of Japan bowed to the queen when receiving honorary knighthoods during their 1998 state visit to Britain. However, royal protocol also needs to accommodate cultural differences. Japanese royals do not traditionally bow their heads but instead bend from the waist.
Commonwealth Kings and Queens
An intriguing royal protocol quandary involves the queen’s position within the Commonwealth. She serves as head of state for Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and 12 other Commonwealth realms outside of the UK. However, she is also monarch of the United Kingdom, while realms such as Canada and Australia are fully independent countries.
At events where she represents the Crown but not specifically the British sovereign, there may be some leeway in protocol. For example, in 2018, the queen bowed her head slightly when meeting King Tupou VI of Tonga at a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
But in general, Commonwealth kings and queens are not obligated to bow to the British monarch, even though she is their nominal head of state. The queen bowed when introduced to King Letsie III of Lesotho during a state visit in 2000, demonstrating mutual sovereign respect.
Tradition and Modern Protocol
While royal protocol remains complex and steeped in tradition, it has needed to adapt to modern sensibilities. Strict rules around bowing and curtsying have relaxed as notions of social equality and gender parity evolve.
Younger royals do not adhere to protocol as rigidly as their predecessors. There is less formal bowing at casual gatherings and more commonly just handshakes or hugs, reflecting generational attitudes. Princess Anne even chose not to curtsy to the queen at an Easter service in 2019.
The queen has proven adept at blending tradition with more modern courtesies when interacting with fellow royalty and monarchs. While she upholds her position as sovereign, she also acts with personal warmth, respect, and sensitivity to context.
The Queen’s Example
Over her seven decades on the throne, the queen has set an example of how to navigate complex royal protocol with grace. By blending tradition with discretion, she upholds her status as sovereign while respecting global perspectives on equality, diversity, and cross-cultural etiquette.
The queen bows to no one except in private moments of solemnity and grief. But she also does not insist upon rigid formalities in her interactions with other royals. Her blend of courtesy, wisdom, and pragmatism offers a model for reconciling the grandeur of monarchy with an ever-changing modern world.
Conclusion
Royal protocol dictates that as reigning British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II bows to no one except at the funerals of close family members. She may choose to nod her head or offer other courtesies when greeting fellow kings and queens, but she is not obliged to bow or curtsy even to foreign sovereigns and heads of Commonwealth realms.
Other members of the royal family and foreign royalty are expected to bow or curtsy to the queen at formal occasions as a mark of respect to her position as sovereign. However, the queen acknowledges that rigid protocol has needed to evolve, particularly when meeting monarchs from diverse cultures.
By blending tradition with discretion and dignity, the queen upholds royal prestige while setting a wise example of adapting protocol to changing social values. Her nuanced understanding of when to adhere to formalities and when to adopt a more modern sensibility has allowed monarchical ritual to remain relevant in the 21st century.
