Why Kate Middleton Curtsied 4 Times to King Charles and Queen Camilla During French State Visit
The Princess of Wales is a master of the royal greeting, and she made sure the King and Queen didn’t miss it
Kate Middleton is well-versed in the art of the curtsy, and she did the dip multiple times during the kick-off of the France state visit to the U.K.
After Princess Kate and Prince William, both 43, welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, to the U.K. at RAF Northolt in London, they traveled to meet with King Charles and Queen Camilla in Windsor. There, the Macrons greeted the King and Queen while the Prince and Princess of Wales hung back.
A video of the welcome showed Kate dip into two curtsies in the background — however, it seemed that King Charles and Queen Camilla missed her greetings as they chatted with the French President and his wife.
When Princess Kate and Prince William came over to talk with the King and Queen, she repeated the gesture of curtsying again to ensure it was seen. After doing a quick little dip for King Charles, Kate had a longer greeting with Queen Camilla, exchanging a kiss on the cheek before doing a fourth and final curtsy.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(599x0:601x2):format(webp)/Kate-Middleton-State-Visit-By-The-President-Of-The-French-Republic-curtsy-2-070825-ee526cb77fd749e9804c8840e8445d0c.jpg)
Kate Middleton curtsies to Queen Camilla during the official French state visit on July 8, 2025. Samir Hussein/WireImage
Despite their own royal status, the Prince and Princess of Wales regularly follow formal royal protocol by bowing and curtseying to the King, 76, and Queen, 77.
In addition to the formal acknowledgment, King Charles and Queen Camilla are known to add a less-ceremonial cheek kiss or hug to close friends and family members.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(694x205:696x207):format(webp)/princess-catherine-prince-william-queen-camilla-king-charles-iii-emmanuel-brigitte-macron-state-visit-windsor-070825-bc14d041d4824c04aec7a0ae1b1787e0.jpg)
The royal family and the Macrons at the state visit on July 8, 2025.DYLAN MARTINEZ/POOL/AFP via Getty
Royal protocol was also called into question during the start of the Macrons’ visit when the French president greeted both Queen Camilla and Princess Kate with a kiss on the hand.
While the very French gesture may have raised some eyebrows, it is not actually against any rules. The royal family’s official website explains that there are no strict codes of conduct for meeting royals.
“There are no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting The Queen or a member of the Royal Family, but many people wish to observe the traditional forms. For men, this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way,” the website states.
In fact, King Charles repaid the warm gesture, welcoming Brigitte with a kiss on the hand as well.
News
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has swapped his 30-room mansion for a modest two-bedroom caravan — now sitting in the garden of his Norfolk residence…
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor goes from Grade II mansion to two-bed caravan as static unit arrives at Marsh Farm Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has swapped his Grade II 30-room Royal Lodge mansion for a pre-owned two-bed static caravan costing £26,000, which now sits propped…
Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are taking a dramatic step behind the scenes — one that could either save their marriage… or change everything…
Princess Beatrice and Edo Mozzi are mulling over a move to the US to get marriage back on track and escape her parents’ Epstein scandal There can be little doubt that the lives of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s children have been profoundly…
CAMERA CAUGHT — Princess Catherine’s Unusual Gesture During Church Service Sparks Questions — And William’s Reaction Says It All
Princess Kate pictured making unusual gesture during church service with Prince William The Princess of Wales joined her husband Prince William for the Archbishop of Canterbury’s installation at the Kent cathedral on Wednesday © Getty Images The Princess of Wales was impeccably…
Christiane Amanpour Faces Cancer Again — And Her Strength Is Inspiring Millions
Christiane Amanpour, the British-Iranian journalist and CNN’s Chief International Anchor, has confirmed that her battle with cancer has returned for the third time. However, in a heartfelt and powerful message, she assured her viewers that her condition is being “very…
After 18 Years, NCIS Just Lost a Legend — And Fans Are Still in Shock
CIS fans have been left shocked after a huge plot twist saw a major character killed off in episode 13 of season 23, which aired on Tuesday. Marking its 500th episode, the hit police procedural delivered a dramatic instalment and, while…
The Other Bennet Sister Is Flipping Jane Austen’s World — And Fans Are Hooked
LONDON — For over two centuries, she was the punchline. The awkward middle sister with the “regrettable” spectacles and the poorly-timed piano solos. But this March, Mary Bennet has finally stepped out of Elizabeth’s shadow, and the results are leaving…
End of content
No more pages to load
