The new royal rule Princess Lilibet must follow after turning 5

Meghan Markle’s daughter will have to follow a longstanding rule for royals after celebrating her fifth birthday on 4 June

rincess Lilibet celebrated her fifth birthday on 4 June and will now be expected to follow a new royal rule.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s daughter will be expected to curtsy when she meets King Charles and Queen Camilla. From about the age of five, royal children are expected to bow or curtsy when greeting the reigning monarch.

Royal expert Marlene Eilers Koenig previously told HELLO!: “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.

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, smiling and holding a young girl.© Instagram
Meghan Markle shared this sweet picture to mark Princess Lilibet’s 5th birthday

“Curtseying and bowing is etiquette, nothing to do with precedence. You bow or curtsy the first time you see the sovereign and then again when you leave.

“At Christmas at church, we saw the Cambridges and Prince Harry and Meghan curtsy and bow when the Queen arrived and left. Other royals, including Charles, did not because they had come from Sandringham and had already seen the Queen.”

According to Myka Meier of Beaumont Etiquette, royal children begin etiquette training “as soon as they’re old enough to sit at a table”.

Speaking to People, she said: “They are raised having formal meals, going to formal events and practicing everything from voice levels to dressing appropriately.”

Birthday girl

Princess Lilibet walking barefoot in the garden looking at flowers© Instagram
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared photos of their daughter to mark her 5th birthday

It is unclear what sort of etiquette training Lilibet and her brother Archie, 7, will receive since they are being raised in Montecito, California, unlike Prince William’s children.

On Lilibet’s birthday, Meghan shared a heartwarming photo of her daughter strolling barefoot through the garden at their Montecito home in her summery birthday dress.

Prince Harry carrying Princess Lilibet, who holds a bunch of balloons© Instagram
Royal children are expected to bow and curtsy when greeting then monarch from about the age of 5

Not only did the young princess rewear one of her favourite sundresses, proving her credentials as a sustainable fashion advocate, but she also accessorised her look with gold jewellery, just like her mother.

“Our dream girl. Happy 5th birthday, Lili,” Meghan captioned the Instagram photos, which appear to have been taken at their home in Montecito, the Chateau of Riven Rock.

In a whimsical photo taken outside as Lilibet admired the flowers, the barefoot five-year-old wore a Cult Gaia beige dress with a shirred top and a summery skirt featuring embroidered flowers.

The sold-out frock, known as the ‘Lola’, was first debuted by Lilibet in March when she was spotted whispering to her mother and sitting under the table in a behind-the-scenes video for Meghan’s As Ever brand.

CRE: https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/906094/the-royal-rule-lilibet-must-follow-after-turning-5/