On formal occasions, Gruier wears a long, white formal gown complemented by blue strands, detached sleeves and white evening gloves. She also wears a small gold crown with a red gem in it, a thick white headband with earmuff-like circles at either side, a gold neck collar with several green crystals hanging from it, pink lipstick, snow-like glitter in her hair, and many white roses across her dress and hair.
A few weeks ago, I took requests for info posts and one of you requested some information regarding curtsying, bowing, and the proper form. So, without further ado - here we go!
In terms of greeting members of the royal family, members of the public can do so in any manner that they feel is appropriate. While some people wish to observe the traditional forms of greeting, including bowing/curtsying, it is also completely appropriate to simply shake hands.
We all know the proper forms of address - Your Royal Highness upon initial introduction, and then Sir/Ma'am thereafter. For the monarch, it is Your Majesty, and then Sir/Ma'am thereafter. Easy peasy.
But what's the appropriate way to bow or curtsy, if you do so choose?
First of all - if you are not British, it is not necessary to bow or curtsy. The members of the British royal family are not the members of your country's ruling family (and here in the US we do not bow or curtsy to any of our politicians), and therefore you do not need to show such deference. Although showing proper respect and being polite is always mandatory, no matter which country you're from or who you are speaking to. Even if it's the rubbish collector - be polite!
Now that that's out of the way...
There is a "no-touch" rule in place when meeting Her Majesty.
Visitors are not supposed to reach for the monarch's hand until it is offered. Hugging, kissing on the cheek, and other familiar gestures are also frowned upon. Once the monarch does extend their hand, it is customary to simply grasp it - lightly. No firm grip, no vicious pumping up and down. Just a simply grasp. Be cool, kids!
For men: If you have decided to bow to a member of the royal family, a slight bow from the neck only is appropriate. In days gone by, a proper bow was executed from the waist, however the tradition has become significantly less formal in recent years.
There's a lot of controversy over how deep a proper curtsy should be, and whether or not the head should be bowed. The answer is, it depends on what you feel comfortable with and the formality of the scenario.
In the photo above, you can see that Prince Michael is bowing from the neck. The Countess of Wessex and Princess Michael of Kent are both curtsying.
You'll notice that the ladies have their left legs behind them and are bending at the knee. Neither of them is bowing their head - in fact, they are both looking straight up at Her Majesty as they greet her.
Additionally, neither of the ladies are in a very deep curtsy - although this position is a bit deeper than the casual "bob" we see from time to time.
The leg positioning of a curtsy seems to depend on what is the most comfortable to the woman doing the curtsying. Below, you'll see Princess Beatrice with her knees nearly crossed (as The Countess and Princess Michael did above), as well as Princess Diana and Princess Eugenie nearly doing a lunge with straight legs.
During more formal occasions, it seems that protocol dictates a deeper curtsy - with or without the head bowed - whereas during casual events the "bob" is acceptable.
In the photo above, you'll notice that Princess Anne is in a very deep curtsy (nearly on the floor!) with her head bowed as she leaves her wedding and curtsies to her mother. Similarly, Princess Diana also engaged in a very deep curtsy and head bow at her wedding to Prince Charles.
The Duchess of Cambridge (below), however, did not curtsy as low, nor did she bow her head when acknowledging the Queen whilst leaving her wedding. To me, it seems that Prince William and Catherine were moving at a rather quicker pace than Princess Anne and Diana did upon their exit, and that Her Majesty may have said something to Catherine on her way out, prompting Kate to continue looking at her and smiling.
(You can view the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkvRCEiN71c.)
So - basically what I've been able to discern is that... while bowing is pretty straight forward (from the neck), curtsying is at the discretion of the woman doing the curtsying. There is no "right or wrong" way to curtsy, as it isn't even a compulsory act (with the exception of those in the royal family).
I would say the most important thing about executing a curtsy is to make it graceful and smooth. If you can't pull of an exceptionally deep curtsy without wobbling, then don't. Stick with a "bob." However, if you'd like to really show your stuff and deference, and can do so without looking like you're drunk, go for the deep curtsy, complete with a head bow.
Tumblr must've deleted my ask, dammit. :C but oh well, here's worth trying again cause I know you love me, Moonie. hehehehe totally asking for either garnet and arsene playing cards, or girlSam and Armelle doing elegant lady things. uwu
