The Royal Rule Behind Kate’s 'Four-Time' Curtsy to the King and Queen During French State Visit

Kate Middleton silenced all talk of her cancer recovery slowing her down as she joined King Charles and Queen Camilla to welcome French President Emmanuel Macron to the U.K. Dressed impeccably in a Dior ensemble, the Princess of Wales stood poised as she awaited the President and First Lady. Upon arrival, the Macrons respectfully bowed to the King and Queen. But when it was Middleton’s turn to curtsy, she had to bow not once, not twice, but four times, as Charles and Camilla were too engrossed in conversation with the Macrons to notice her.
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A viral video of Middleton repeatedly curtsying to the King and Queen during the visit has been circulating on the internet. As reported by People magazine, the clip initially showed her curtsying twice in the background as King Charles and Queen Camilla chatted with Macron and his wife, Brigitte. Later, when the Prince and Princess of Wales approached to speak with Charles and Camilla, she repeated the curtsy to ensure it was acknowledged. After doing a quick little dip for Charles, she shared a warm exchange with Camilla, offering a kiss on the cheek, before performing a fourth and final curtsy.

After royal watchers caught the King and Queen's unintentional snub, they took to the comments to share their opinions. One royal fan opined, "They're not even watching her doing it. Lady, just do once." In a similar vein, another echoed, "Why is Katherine bouncing up and down at nothing?" Meanwhile, a netizen penned, "So awkward." As the comments poured in, a critic slammed, "Yes, protocol. And neither of them even looked convincingly in her direction. All of them should be curtsying to her!"
For those unversed, although Prince William and Middleton are the future heirs, as per royal protocol, they are still expected to curtsy to the current Heads of State. Royal expert Myka Meirs explained some of the rules for curtsying, telling the outlet, "The general rule of thumb to remember is that a Royal Highness does not curtsy to another Royal Highness." She added, "Protocol dictates that when the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex are not accompanied by their husbands, Princesses of the Royal Blood, such as Princess Beatrice and Eugenie, rank above them. However, when the Duchesses are accompanied by their husbands, the roles are reversed and the Duchesses outrank the Princesses."
Coming back to the state visit, the Princess of Wales also paid a subtle tribute to the late Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth with her outfit for the occasion. As per InStyle, the future Queen wore two meaningful heirlooms: Princess Diana’s Collingwood pearl earrings and Queen Elizabeth’s signature three-strand pearl necklace. After welcoming the President and First Lady, the royals joined a carriage procession through Windsor, a route often used for royal weddings. For her part, Queen Camilla also honored the late Queen by wearing a vintage diamond and emerald brooch from her collection. After welcoming the Macrons, the royals headed for a private lunch at Windsor Castle's state banquet.