How low should you go?

As Fergie and Theresa May sink to extravagant new

depths before royals... etiquette experts reveal the formula for a perfect CURTSY

By JILL FOSTER FOR THE DAILY MAIL

PUBLISHED: 22:30 BST, 9 August 2018 | UPDATED: 01:37 BST, 10 August 2018

She's never been known for her keen observance of royal etiquette, so it was no wonder
the Duchess of York, performed the most awkward of curtseys when greeting her former
mother-in-law recently.

Dipping low as the Queen arrived at the Parade Ring at Royal Ascot, the 58-year-old
former wife of Prince Andrew looked precariously like she might not make it up again.

Prime Minister Theresa May, meanwhile, when greeting Prince William this week,
performed a very elegant and athletic curtsey, which ended barely ten inches from the
floor. Not bad for a 61-year-old!

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But in these modern times, is the curtsey still necessary? Who curtseys to whom? And
when? How low do they go? Etiquette expert Jean Broke Smith and Adam Partridge,
spokesman for the Debretts A To Z Of Modern Manners, talk us through . . .

THE HISTORY

The curtsey is a traditional gesture of greeting by a girl or a woman to someone more

senior in social rank and dates back to at least the Middle Ages. It is derived from a
'courtesy' and is simply a mark of respect. It became gender specific in the 17th century,
with men adopting the bow, and women the curtsey.
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
COUNTESS OF WESSEX 13-inch dip 18in from the ground: Sophie has her left leg
over her right and is more sitting down than curtseying. Perhaps HM appeared
suddenly and wrong-footed her3

It really took off (despegar) in Victorian times. Women's dresses were so large that a little
bob would hardly have been noticeable. Instead, women began to curtsey with more
depth. Later, when Edwardian dress came in, some women started holding up the
material of their skirts or dresses as part of the curtsey.

HOW TO DO IT...

'A curtsey should be a discreet, brief movement and not a ballet plie, or a grand,
sweeping descent to the ground,' says Adam Partridge.

'From a standing position, transfer your weight to one foot (usually the left). Place the ball
of your other foot behind and slightly to the outside of your standing ankle.
 +13

DAME JOAN COLLINS 9-inch dip 15in from the ground: A bit too dramatic, but
should we be surprised? Joan's back is properly straight but her legs are
everywhere

Bend your front knee while keeping your torso upright and your hands relaxed at your
sides. There is no need to hold your skirt or dress.
 To come up, slowly straighten your knees, bringing your feet back into a parallel position.
The whole motion should take a few seconds.'

...AND WHEN

'If you're meeting the Queen, she will always put her hand out to you and that is your cue
to curtsey,' says Jean Broke Smith. 'You should not look at her as you curtsey but keep
your eyes lowered. Only as you come back up should you meet her eyes and if she is
offering you her hand you can shake it. Otherwise, keep you hands to yourself.'


 DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE 7-inch dip 16in from the ground: Ramrod back, neat
(pulcro) legs and a good dip. Excellent, Kate — just as we would expect from our
future Queen

INCH PERFECT

Changing fashions have affected the curtsey (long skirts facilitated a deep plunge, while
shorter hem-lines require a more modest dip) and now, we see everything from deep,
deferential curtsey (Theresa May) to the slight, barely-see-it bob (Angelina Jolie).

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
DUCHESS OF SUSSEX 6-inch dip 19in from the ground: Meghan's feet aren't
separated and she's hardly bending her knees. Needs practice

'There's no rule as to how many inches from the ground you must go — it depends on

how flexible you are and how good you are with your core strength and balance,' says
Jean. 'The Duchess of York's recent curtsey at Ascot was a little over the top, however.

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WHO TO WHOM?

'Members of the public are not bound to the traditions and protocols of the Royal Family,
although they can choose to curtsey if they wish,' says Adam, which makes for some
awkward moments when people bump into the royals when they're off duty.

If Kate and Meghan are accompanied by their husbands William or Harry, then royals
such as Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie or even the older Countess of Wessex would
have to curtsey to them.

But if they're unaccompanied, they would have to curtsey to Beatrice and Eugenie
because they are of royal descent. When Kate becomes Queen, everyone will have to
curtsey to her.

'It's been tricky (difícil, complicado) for both Kate and Meghan and I've been fascinated to
watch them both learning about who they should — and should not — curtsey to,' says
Jean.

As for the public, it's up to the individual as to whether you curtsey to any royal. 'The
Queen herself has said she does not expect people to curtsey, and Buckingham Palace
reflects this in its protocol advice,' says Adam.

CAN'T DO IT?

Clearly, something Fergie should be thinking about if her knees are playing her up. If
you're in a wheelchair or simply too old, then a nice alternative is to lower your head in a
small bob without making eye contact. 'Once you raise your head and the member of the
Royal Family is looking at you, you can reciprocate, says Adam Partridge.

OTHER ROYALS

They should curtsey to the Queen, certainly as a mark of respect. Even members of
foreign royal families normally curtsey and bow to our Queen — she has been on the
throne for 65 years, surely placing her higher in rank than most other royals in the world.
Of course, it's open to interpretation but one would hope, say, the Queen of Spain would
curtsey to our Queen.

AND FOREIGNERS
The rules are the same. It is up to the individual as to whether they curtsey or not.
Actress Susan Sarandon broke every royal protocol when she met the Queen at the
Royal Windsor Cup Polo in June, when she marched up to our bemused
(desconcertado) monarch and shook her hand. Royal protocol states that guests should
wait to be introduced to the Queen before speaking to her — and should never touch her
uninvited.

'I got it all wrong,' Sarandon said afterwards. 'I guess being among film makers makes
you more confident.'

When former First Lady Michelle Obama met the Queen, she gave a small curtsey. Not
so Melania Trump, however, during her visit last month.