![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HG5JJ5XNTRBA5IKPDCRIE6JIIE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fd00058df6e013abd954093046de2193bb52ee6b254857a546a8d3b9d0ea6a63&width=400&height=225)
Then UK prime minister Liz Truss curtsies as she arrives to meet King Charles III, at Buckingham Palace in London on September 9, 2022. AFP
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US actress Angelina Jolie curtsies to Queen Elizabeth II on being presented with the Insignia of an Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, at Buckingham Palace in London, on October 10, 2014. AFP
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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, curtsies to the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, next to her husband Prince Harry, inside the Palace of Westminster on September 14, 2022. AFP
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British actress Julie Christie curtsies to Queen Elizabeth II, in 1965. Getty Images
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Queen Elizabeth II meets French actress Catherine Deneuve at a Royal film Performance, on March 14, 1966. Getty Images
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British royals Charles, then Prince of Wales, and his wife Princess Diana greet Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman at Al Alam Palace in Muscat, Oman, on November 11, 1986. Getty Images
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Queen Elizabeth II meets American singer and actress Jennifer Lopez backstage at the Dominion Theatre in London after the Royal Variety Performance in 2001. Getty Images
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Queen Elizabeth II meets US pop star and actress Madonna, at the world premiere of the movie Die Another Day, at the Royal Albert Hall, on November 18, 2002, in London. AFP
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US singer Lady Gaga curtsies to Queen Elizabeth II following the Royal Variety Performance in Blackpool, England on December 7, 2009. AFP
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Prince William holds the hand of his bride, Kate, as they walk down the aisle and greet Queen Elizabeth II inside Westminster Abbey on the couple's wedding day on April 29, 2011, in London, England. Getty Images
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Queen Elizabeth II meets Yoko Ono during a visit to the Museum of Liverpool on December 1, 2011 in Liverpool, England. Getty Images
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Queen Elizabeth II with Joan Collins at a special Celebration of the Arts event at the Royal Academy of Arts on May 23, 2012, in London, England. Getty Images
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Queen Elizabeth II meets English actress Carey Mulligan at a reception celebrating the British Film Industry, in Windsor Castle, on April 4, 2013. AFP
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Queen Elizabeth II with US actress Uma Thurman during a Reception for the Dramatic Arts at Buckingham Palace in London, on February 17, 2014. AFP
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Mike Tindall playfully tries a curtsy prior to the royal arrival on the first day of The Royal Ascot race meeting, on June 16, 2015 in Ascot, England. Getty Images
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The then new leader of the UK Conservative Party, Theresa May, kneels as she is greeted by Queen Elizabeth II, in Buckingham Palace in London, on July 13, 2016. AFP
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Then UK prime minister Liz Truss curtsies as she arrives to meet King Charles III, at Buckingham Palace in London on September 9, 2022. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PHUSCX3P7RCWVOGUUCE46IOJJ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=69dfec645edb787885fad4ce2c557c6d0e35845eb22af6ec1fc5e3004448f28b&width=400&height=225)
US actress Angelina Jolie curtsies to Queen Elizabeth II on being presented with the Insignia of an Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, at Buckingham Palace in London, on October 10, 2014. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EVD6BIDCDNGNTB3TWFO5VCAVDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f1175baae5c9ddb564cdcf009fdf197c8217d9ac8a2c38f7bad759f924c4be69&width=400&height=225)
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, curtsies to the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, next to her husband Prince Harry, inside the Palace of Westminster on September 14, 2022. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4UI2PVEIFFFD7GXYBG276HKQJM.jpg?smart=true&auth=abab76c5723798e11c6621e06b5b08d073197609a4fe2a80d3324360d5789145&width=400&height=225)
British actress Julie Christie curtsies to Queen Elizabeth II, in 1965. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EIGUQVDCT5FCNC4KIOXEKJDYM4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c5abfd9b38c0a47482f6d1377aa66c7ed3c557c7036bdd836fbc3934af1666b7&width=400&height=225)
Queen Elizabeth II meets French actress Catherine Deneuve at a Royal film Performance, on March 14, 1966. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SOSD334ACFBTVHB6R3KNZAKJ7U.jpg?smart=true&auth=e26787a4e66f29442df0855412049571676d743103b0cc43b12be1f4f896365f&width=400&height=225)
British royals Charles, then Prince of Wales, and his wife Princess Diana greet Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman at Al Alam Palace in Muscat, Oman, on November 11, 1986. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MC2OB7LBUJFODJAPUANCMJQEOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e0d0a2636b9033b7a285f3a06aacc0dfd3456acc7a45e84faa587e5832e61570&width=400&height=225)
Queen Elizabeth II meets American singer and actress Jennifer Lopez backstage at the Dominion Theatre in London after the Royal Variety Performance in 2001. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SOQSBXZQMJH47FCL2DPSSTIKHI.jpg?smart=true&auth=fd7d98f505ed060d22366234beb41f4925209b7ab1552abd751d4ba1379118b6&width=400&height=225)
Queen Elizabeth II meets US pop star and actress Madonna, at the world premiere of the movie Die Another Day, at the Royal Albert Hall, on November 18, 2002, in London. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IE56FGN3O5HZXOEMZBOAXYEICE.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ddb6cdaa12c0ca8ecbb424170be0c65e6760e54d4c31be66bac5ebdd72fff17&width=400&height=225)
US singer Lady Gaga curtsies to Queen Elizabeth II following the Royal Variety Performance in Blackpool, England on December 7, 2009. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RU5G3S4O5RA6PM4J5WBTBFVUZM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e6415823c50fd4df4a183f9214dcdb4c0bec32f20e1cbc5cd1b25e5c7caec9d3&width=400&height=225)
Prince William holds the hand of his bride, Kate, as they walk down the aisle and greet Queen Elizabeth II inside Westminster Abbey on the couple's wedding day on April 29, 2011, in London, England. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WWBHNEJNFBCIJPZZACE5HZTNBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=2bc8d413b95a9e0f7cee8fac661156342a093e6e85b2c8b3ffc2c34df6ea0543&width=400&height=225)
Queen Elizabeth II meets Yoko Ono during a visit to the Museum of Liverpool on December 1, 2011 in Liverpool, England. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/67FUOZX2GNBF5FEXDXL7ZZMZ3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=21d0eea9632089bbd1273cd89150861694a27788eec43d0800ef89f9a01446ed&width=400&height=225)
Queen Elizabeth II with Joan Collins at a special Celebration of the Arts event at the Royal Academy of Arts on May 23, 2012, in London, England. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y7ZQLMPYIJCZVNGM6537UI2MQQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6460f57013234913e171eb875f25caaa54858984b1de8fcec586b6c9569d04a5&width=400&height=225)
Queen Elizabeth II meets English actress Carey Mulligan at a reception celebrating the British Film Industry, in Windsor Castle, on April 4, 2013. AFP
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Queen Elizabeth II with US actress Uma Thurman during a Reception for the Dramatic Arts at Buckingham Palace in London, on February 17, 2014. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VDB2IKXZ5ZF5XKDL4KWIBGS6D4.jpg?smart=true&auth=03455f49b52a81620c2758ab71ec797d54ba48b3bf68e5984f8146af73960d5d&width=400&height=225)
Mike Tindall playfully tries a curtsy prior to the royal arrival on the first day of The Royal Ascot race meeting, on June 16, 2015 in Ascot, England. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ICDWMV3AGBECFPCYY37Y2MMKBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=8f9ec1c1ecfb9a407e89e0ab73bd2d169dea7f61624622ce27f1d98b154f2d14&width=400&height=225)
The then new leader of the UK Conservative Party, Theresa May, kneels as she is greeted by Queen Elizabeth II, in Buckingham Palace in London, on July 13, 2016. AFP
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Then UK prime minister Liz Truss curtsies as she arrives to meet King Charles III, at Buckingham Palace in London on September 9, 2022. AFP
Why women curtsy and how fashion and royal rules have dictated the show of respect
From Meghan’s crash course in deference to who Kate, Princess of Wales, does and does not have to curtsy to in the royal family…
Gemma White
15 December, 2022
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