What a sophisticated bow.
Kate Middleton put her royal etiquette and years of training to good use when she gave a record-breaking curtsy on Tuesday.
Wearing a stunning red hat from Jane Taylor and a matching wool cape from Catherine Walker & Co., the Princess of Wales accompanied her husband, Prince William, both 41, to greet South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, 62, and his wife. First Lady Kim Keon Hee, 51, on her official state visit to the United Kingdom.
After introducing themselves to each other, the couples arrived at the Horse Guards Parade in London to meet King Charles (75) and Queen Camilla (76) for a ceremonial welcome.
As Princess Kate walked up the stairs behind Prince William, who bowed his head to thank his father and Camilla, she paused at the top and gave the perfect curtsy to the king and queen, just inches from certain disaster.
Kate Middleton knows how to curtsey beautifully – even when faced with obstacles! YouTube / The Royal Family Channel The princess put her royal etiquette and years of training to good use when she gave a record-breaking curtsy on Tuesday. YouTube / The Royal Family Channel Prince Kate accompanied her husband, Prince William, to greet South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, First Lady Kim Keon Hee, on their official state visit to the United Kingdom.Getty Images
Without batting an eyelid or falling down a flight of stairs, Prince Kate flashed a wide grin for the cameras before taking her place next to Prince William.
Later that evening, the visiting couple rode a horse-drawn carriage down a street lined with British and Korean flags to Buckingham Palace.
There the royals put on their noble robes, crowns and tiaras for the state banquet.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were joined by 170 guests, including royals Prince William and Princess Kate of Wales, Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
Queen Camilla, King Charles III, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee pose before the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, London, UK. Via Portal Britain’s King Charles III. With South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol before the state banquet marking the state visit of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee at Buckingham Palace, London.AP Britain’s Queen Camilla and the wife of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, before the state banquet marking the state visit of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee at Buckingham Palace.AP
K-pop queen Black Pink was also in attendance.
The four members of the band – Jisoo, Lisa, Jennie and Rosé – were addressed in the King’s pre-dinner speech, in which he praised them for using their platform to raise awareness of environmental issues.
“It is particularly inspiring to see Korea’s young generation committed to the cause,” King Charles said. “I applaud Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé, better known as Blackpink, for their role in bringing the message of environmental sustainability to a global audience as ambassadors for the UK Presidency of COP 26 and later as an advocate for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
He added: “I can only admire how they can prioritize these important issues while being global superstars.”
Members of South Korean girl band Blackpink arrive at the state banquet at Buckingham Palace in central London.POOL/AFP via Getty Images
It has been tradition for centuries to greet or greet members of the Royal Family with a curtsy or bow, but according to the official website, “There are no mandatory codes of conduct when meeting the Queen or a member of the Royal Family, but there are many.” People want to observe the traditional forms.”
Therefore, it is not surprising that when members of the royal family have their knee-highs in league or are royally annoyed, they show their contempt by refusing to curtsy to the monarch who has earned their wrath.
This was the case at King Charles’ coronation on May 6, when Princess Kate reportedly refused to bow to Queen Camilla as she left Westminster Abbey.
First Lady of South Korea, Kim Keon Hee, President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend a ceremonial welcome at the Horse Guards Parade President and First Lady of the Republic of Korea on the first day of her state visit. Getty Images The Princess of Wales wore a stunning red hat by Jane Taylor and matching wool cape by Catherine Walker & Co. for the ceremony. Zak Hussein / SplashNews.com For centuries, it has been a tradition to greet members of the royal family with a curtsy or bow to greet or greet, but according to the official website, “there are no mandatory codes of conduct when meeting the Queen or a member of the Royal Family.” Getty Images
In an interview on “Dan Wootton Tonight,” royal biographer Tom Bower claimed that the Princess of Wales was “furious” with the newly crowned queen over the guest list for the coronation because she could only invite four of her family members while Camilla was 20 people present.
“Camilla brought 20 Parker Bowles to the coronation and there were four Middletons,” Bower said, while confirming that both Middleton siblings were not allowed to bring their partners.
“If you watch the coronation footage as the King and Queen leave the thrones and walk towards the exit of Westminster Abbey, you will see that everyone bows and curtsies to the King and no one moves a limb or muscle as Camilla leaves over,” Bower continued. “And that’s because they were angry with Camilla.”
Refusal to curtsy has apparently also gotten the Duchess of Sussex into trouble.
Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales (wearing the mantle of the Royal Victorian Order) and Prince William, Prince of Wales (wearing the mantle of the Order of the Garter) watch an RAF flypast of Buckingham Palace from the balcony after the coronation of King Charles III. and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023 in London, England. Getty Images Princess Kate reportedly refused to bow to Queen Camilla as she left Westminster Abbey for King Charles’ coronation. Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly won’t return to the UK because she doesn’t want to curtsy to Middleton when Prince William becomes king.AFP via Getty Images
According to royal biographer Andrew Morton, 70, Prince Harry, 38, and Meghan Markle, 42, will not return to Britain because she doesn’t want Middleton to curtsy when Prince William becomes king.
On Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, the biographer was asked about the possibility of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex returning to the UK after their move across the pond in 2020.
“What, and Meghan Markle curtsying to Kate Middleton?” Morton huffed. “I do not believe that.”