What happens if you dont bow to the queen

Use the right greetings. On presentation to the Queen, the correct address is Your Majesty and subsequently Ma'am, pronounced like jam. Be early. Guests should arrive before a royal.

Take the Queen's lead. Don't talk unless spoken to, sit until she sits or begin eating until she does. Form semi-circles. If you are presented to Her Majesty at a Royal event it is likely you will be marshalled into position in a series of semi-circles rather than straight lines. Guests should try to be empty-handed, Debrett's adds. In , traditional protocol was breached when the Queen and Michelle Obama were spotted with their arms around each other.

Arguably the most important thing to remember is that one should never touch the monarch, and only shake her hand if she offers it. Michelle Obama famously breached traditional protocol back in , when she was spotted with her arm around the Queen. If one is invited to dine with the Queen, it is important to note which side of the monarch you are sitting on. It is customary for the guest of honour to sit to the right of the Queen, and it follows that she will speak to that person during the first course of the dinner.

She will then switch her attention to the person on her left for the following course. Formula One star Lewis Hamilton fell foul of this rule at one function, and was politely told: "No, you speak that way first and I'll speak this way, and then I'll come back to you. Lewis Hamilton was unaware of the etiquette surrounding dining table conversation.

Other faux pas include turning your back on the Queen — it is considered rude — and taking photographs while visiting her at home.

Guests should also never leave an event before a royal, unless special permission has been granted, and one should avoid any personal questions — polite small talk will suffice. But what if people who meet her don't know the standard etiquette rules? Or they get nervous and do something else? Or they just don't feel like bowing for another human being because, let's face it, it's not ? Well, if you decide not to greet Her Royal Highness with the traditional gesture, it turns out that she's actually pretty chill about it.

Dickie Arbiter, one of the queen's most senior former courtiers who spent 12 years at Buckingham Palace and Clarence House as a press secretary, revealed back in that while many still happily abide by the old tradition, it is "not necessary" and she is "very relaxed" about it.

Americans, of course, can always choose to bow or curtsy to members of the royal family, but that is up to the individual. These rules do not apply to Meghan, however, as she is technically still a part of the royal family.

A large display of flowers was installed at the gates of Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace. Queen Elizabeth II bowed her head as it went by. During their three-day whistlestop tour of the UK Kate and William will be sleeping in separate beds on the train.