Interesting question, and if it’s a minor hijack I hope you’ll pardon me, but I’ve gotten to wondering…
I think it’s fair to say that if you visit the Queen (and have to get a belly full of wine), you bow. If you’re in London, you obey British social conventions. But if the Queen visits you? What if you’re the POTUS? Shouldn’t she then have to obey American social conventions?
Otherwise, what is it that makes British culture trump American culture whether you’re in London or New York? Or British protocol instead of culture, or what have you?
Not that, of course, it’s important enough to make a scene over. Just wondering how it would work, and why.
I wonder why someone didn’t prep President Reagan better for his visit to the Queen. At one point he actually put his hand on her back. I read that she bristled.
I’ll bet that no one can bristle like Elizabeth II.
It could have been worse. She might have shuddered.
I hear that she has a lovely complexion and beautiful blue eyes. Anyone know for sure?
Why is a bow more of a problem than any other honorific afforded e.g. the President of the US (such as referring to him as Mr. President)? Bowing isn’t a show of subjugation, rather a mildly anachronistic form of showing respect to a head of state.
This is all besides the point, though, as Protocol Officers would advise you what to do, anyway (and most likely, anyone who appears to be a troublemaker would be “uninvited” fast, in order not to cause an embarrassing scene).
If My President offered a handshake, I’d be inclined to say “Nope, Shrubbo, too much blood on 'em.” Followed by a quick exit assisted by the Secret Service, no doubt.
If I met the Queen, I’d use the polite form of address. However, I’d consider a curtsey if we were both in ballgowns!
If they’re called up in court, maybe to get their AoA, maybe to be appointed Queen’s Guard, whatever, damn straight Americans should bow. It’s not just for Drachenwalders, An Tirians or Lochacers, ya know.
When did the deep full bow to the altar before entering the pew in a Catholic church go out? I seem to recall such a thing as a child in the Italian side of my family.
I don’t know that she’d consider it improper for an American to bow, but I’m quite sure that she knows that it isn’t improper for one not to.
It isn’t required by etiquette for an American to bow to any King or Queen – Miss Manners goes so far as to say that an American should not do so.. Now, etiquette doesn’t have an enforcement agency, so you can certainly do as you like, but don’t bow thinking that it’s ‘more polite’ to do so. It is perfectly polite and proper for an American to skip the bow – and Queen Elizabeth definately knows that.
Possibly apocryphal story about Queen Victoria: an American woman had an audience with Queen V; once the meeting was over, the American hesitated a bit wondering either or not she ought to curtsey. Queen Victoria said to her, “You need not curtsey. Just turn and go.”
I am of the “If I may not bow, I am no more free than if I must bow.” school on this one. I have bowed to a person or so, a time or two, sometimes even more than an American nod instead of bow sort of bow.
However I have never met, or attended an event with any royal person. In the case of one or two of the monarchs in the world in my life time I would certainly make no gesture that might be considered respect, because I had no respect whatsoever for the individual monarch. However, I am exceedingly unlikely to be accorded the opportunity to snub a king or queen I consider worthy of my scorn.
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, is not one of these. To me, she seems a nice lady, and especially after her very kind and sensitive gesture of having the United States National Anthem played at the changing of her guard after the tragedy of 2001, I feel a genuine affection for her. I would bow, if introduced.
