Why Mathilde shouldn't bow to the British Queen Camilla, but to the Danish Princess Mary she should

RoyaltiesStunning images of the royal meeting at Buckingham Palace. When they greet the hostess, Queen Camilla, her sister-in-law, Countess Sophie, and the Danish Crown Princess Mary kneel. Queen Mathilde and Queen Rania just give her a kiss. Where does this difference come from?

The Queen of England, Camilla, 75, hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace in London on Tuesday afternoon to draw attention to the issue of violence against women. Among the guests were foreign royals, including Queen Mathilde (49), Jordanian Queen Rania (52) and Danish Crown Princess Mary (50).

Video footage of the welcome (look down) they are amazing. Camilla enters the hall and greets the illustrious guests one by one. First in line to her is her sister-in-law, Countess Sophie (57), wife of Prince Edward. The family members kiss, whereupon Sophie – it’s hard to see why a man gets in the way – bows.

Then it’s Queen Mathilde’s turn. Two kisses, no bows, followed by a short friendly conversation. Ditto Queen Rania. Finally, Princess Mary first gives two kisses and then almost kneels in front of Camilla.

The bow is called “curtsy” (in English) or “reverence” (French) in royal circles. This is a form of greeting where one kneels in front of the other. But why shouldn’t Mathilde and Rania do it, and Mary should? This has to do with rank. A person of lower rank performs the curtsy. Mary is “only” crown princess and is lower in the hierarchy than Queen Camilla, while Mathilde and Rania are queens and are on the same level. By the way, only women take a bow. Men stick to a nod.

But in the case of Countess Sophie, isn’t it strange that she greets her sister-in-law like this? Then you should know that protocol is still sacred in the British royal family. Meghan Markle was surprised as she was on her way to her first meeting with Queen Elizabeth, she said in her TV interview with Oprah Winfrey. “We were in the car and Harry said to me: You will soon meet my grandmother. Do you know how to do a knee flexion? I: What? I thought it was something for the outside of the family. That was part of the bells and whistles. I didn’t know it happened in the family. I said: But she’s your grandmother. And he: She is the queen.“

So does Mathilde

Mathilde is still a princess in 2012 when she greets then Japanese Empress Michiko.

Mathilde, then still a princess, bows to the then Japanese Empress Michiko. © News photos

In 2016, Mathilde is already queen, and the Japanese princess Masako must bow to her knees. Now she won’t have to do it anymore. After her husband Naruhito’s accession to the throne, she became empress.