Meeting the Queen of England!

[Rosie_0801]

Originally Posted by Ellie

[/LIST]American citizens do not curtsy to the Queen. Standing in respect, of course. Curtsy...no, not even a small one.

Why not? I've seen footage of Margaret Thatcher curtseying as she was presented to the King of Jordan (I think it was the King of Jordan anyway.)

Rosie

[asta]

Originally Posted by KidsHappen

Does anyone know why not? Certainly her subjects have had need for gloves in her presence before. Why in the world would they not be allowed to wear them?

Because it is a serious faux pas to shake hands with a glove on.

If you are wearing gloves, you then have to take off your right glove, hold it in your left, and shake the person's hand. Then you are holding something in your left hand. The entire historical point of shaking hands is to show that you are not holding any weapons. Now, most people wouldn't consider a glove a weapon, but historically, they were used to slap people across the face as a distraction.

The only time you see people wearing gloves is when they are outside, and are onlookers. They don't do receiving lines for the Queen outside, so there is no need for gloves.

Beyond that, the Queen still retains the title "Defender of the Faith", "that touch of holiness once gave the occupant of the throne the supposed ability to cure certain diseases" (Time). So having an audience with her, and shaking her hand, is a big deal in some circles.

Here is an example of the Queen's grand-daughter shaking the Queen's hand and curtseying.

It appears that only subjects of the Queen (and people who were once her subjects who still opt to) bow to her. Some heads of state bow to one another out of respect for local custom, but it is not "required".


a

[Ellie]

Originally Posted by Rosie_0801

Why not? I've seen footage of Margaret Thatcher curtseying as she was presented to the King of Jordan (I think it was the King of Jordan anyway.)

Rosie

I'll probably get the exact wording wrong, lol, but subjects of one monarch generally curtsey to other monarchs (maybe because the monarchs consider each other cousins or something? which they often were, back in the day). Americans are not subjects of a monarch; they are citizens of the U.S.

[Friederike in Persia]

The advice so far sounds good, just wanted to add that the people I've talked to who have met/eaten with her, have all protrayed her as very pleasant. That would be my in-laws and my husband's ant and uncle, as well as his cousin.
So I think it's nothing to be scared of at all, but something to look forward to!!

[MeanestMomInMidwest]

This won't help protocol, but my cousin was a Coast Guard honor guard and Queen E walked right past him. He said she smelled lovely, like flowers.

[Classical Country Mama]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions and advice. After a bit of doing, I was able to reach a royal liaison (!) who filled me in on the precise details I was searching for. The luncheon is this month, so yes, I promise to update everyone once it's over!

My only personal experience with royalty was once serving tea to Queen Noor (nobody curtsied, and she was perfectly lovely!), but this is a whole other ballgame....

[Mothersweets]

Originally Posted by Classical Country Mama

Thanks so much for all the suggestions and advice. After a bit of doing, I was able to reach a royal liaison (!) who filled me in on the precise details I was searching for. The luncheon is this month, so yes, I promise to update everyone once it's over!

My only personal experience with royalty was once serving tea to Queen Noor (nobody curtsied, and she was perfectly lovely!), but this is a whole other ballgame....

What?! Queen Noor! I would have flipped out! How did you get to do that?! Pleeeease tell!

I"ve been reading books about royalty for the past 3 months and now I am desperate need of a vicarious experience fix.

[Tangerine]

Originally Posted by asta

Now, most people wouldn't consider a glove a weapon, but historically, they were used to slap people across the face as a distraction.

Ok, not that it would really be funny to slap the Queen with a glove. It was just the idea of the glove-slap-duel-challenge that tickled me.

[Rosie_0801]

Originally Posted by Classical Country Mama

My only personal experience with royalty was once serving tea to Queen Noor (nobody curtsied, and she was perfectly lovely!), but this is a whole other ballgame....

That sure beats my experience! The only experience with royalty I've had has been with SCA royals, heheh.


Rosie

[Classical Country Mama]

It SOUNDS exciting, but I assure you it was far more exciting to me than to Queen Noor (no, I didn't spill the tea or anything; I was completely non-memorable).

The company I used to work at ten years ago in DC hosted a meeting focused on charities. There were a dozen or so "famous" people there, including Queen Noor, and I was one of the lackeys considered un-clumsy enough to be allowed to serve refreshments. So you see, no terribly interesting story! But it was certainly a memorable honor for me.