Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker met Queen Camilla at Clarence House, and chose to both bow and curtsy.SJP was in England for a Booker Prize event, due to being a judge!There are very specific royal rules when it comes to bowing/curtsying—keep reading for details.
Sarah Jessica Parker just showed up at Clarence House for a reception honoring the Children’s Booker Prize (she’s a judge), and met none other than Queen Camilla for the first time. Naturally, SJP was briefed on royal protocol, and gave Her Majesty a quick curtsy upon meeting her. And a bow, for good measure!
While bowing/curtsying upon meeting the royals is certainly standard, it’s actually not royal protocol for an American citizen to do so. That said, etiquette expert Myka Meier tells People that “many Americans still choose to observe a traditional British greeting of a bow or curtsy. Either option is fine and deemed appropriate.”
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Meanwhile, the royal family’s own website says, “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.”
Anyway! SJP told Queen Camilla that being a Booker Prize judge “was thrilling,” adding, “Especially to be among this group, who are all extraordinary, smart and wise. We had such riches to discuss, and we are surrounded by such wonderful, exciting authors.”
Love this era for her.
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