The rules of etiquette surrounding the British royal family — bows, curtsies, and subtle gestures — have once again come under scrutiny, as two recent incidents are compared with a telling moment involving Princess Charlotte.
Charlotte’s Curtsy and Camilla’s Reassurance
At King Charles’s Coronation Concert in Windsor in May 2023, Princess Charlotte attempted to curtsy to her grandfather as he entered the royal box. In doing so, she turned away from Queen Camilla, leaving no chance to offer the same gesture to her step-grandmother.
Camilla, however, quickly eased the awkwardness. As she passed Charlotte, she placed a hand on the young royal’s shoulder, prompting her to smile back. The moment circulated widely, framed both as a small breach of protocol and as an example of Camilla’s effort to reassure a child in the spotlight.
“For a young princess who was definitely up past her bedtime, royal protocol was likely the last thing on her mind,” one commentator observed at the time.
The clip has resurfaced in light of more recent etiquette controversies.
Camilla’s Gesture Toward Kate
Kate thought she was doing something by running Meghan out of the country and now she’s getting scolded by Camilla like a child. pic.twitter.com/K6S5GIu6tG
— Hannah (@queen_meghan14) September 17, 2025
During Donald and Melania Trump’s state visit, cameras caught Queen Camilla gesturing toward Kate Middleton as the Princess of Wales joined a conversation between the Queen, King Charles, and the First Lady. Within seconds, Kate stepped back to stand beside Prince William.
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