Princess Lilibet Must Follow One Strict Royal Protocol After Turning 5 as Harry Eyes UK Return
Prince Harry's hopes for a reunion with his family could leave 5-year-old Princess Lilibet with her first lesson in royal etiquette.
After Prince Harry and Meghan Markle bid farewell to royal life, they raised their daughter, Princess Lilibet, outside the Firm's traditions and customs in California. Regardless of her non-royal upbringing, one long-standing royal protocol would likely come into play if her father ever brought her back to the UK. The royal rule has drawn renewed attention amid reports that Harry is hoping to reunite Markle and their children with his family as he is set to arrive next month for an Invictus Games event. Should that happen, Lilibet would be required to curtsy to King Charles, an expectation that applies to children once they turn five.
The young Princess celebrated her 5th birthday on June 4 privately with her father, mother, and older brother in Montecito, California. As reported by HELLO!, if she ever ends up reuniting with her grandfather across the pond, she would be expected to curtsy to him and Queen Camilla. Previously, etiquette expert historian Marlene Koenig explained at what age royal children are expected to pay their respects to the monarch, saying, "Certainly by age five. The only person they will curtsy or bow to is the sovereign. A royal highness does not curtsy to another royal highness. Yes, there are articles that state this, but it is not true."
Similarly, etiquette expert Myka Meier also told PEOPLE that protocol training for royal children begins "as soon as they're old enough to sit at a table." If Lilibet were to grow up in the royal fold, instead of the West Coast, she would have already been on her way to etiquette classes. Meir said, "They [royal children] are raised having formal meals, going to formal events, and practicing everything from voice levels to dressing appropriately to even, of course, how to curtsy and bow. The children in the wedding would have been very well prepared through rehearsals and even learned wedding-specific behavior and protocol."
With that in mind, the royal rule was back in the headlines hours after a Page Six report cited sources who alleged that the Duke of Sussex is eager to bring Markle, Prince Archie, and Lilibet to meet his family during his upcoming July visit. However, a reunion with Prince William remains highly unlikely. Lately, reports have circulated that the brothers no longer communicate and that Harry does not have William's phone number. Regardless, even if the Prince wishes to visit his home country, his fight for taxpayer-funded security remains unresolved, despite his high hopes that the UK Home Office would someday grant his request.
