Reason it looked like Meghan Markle 'forgot' to curtsy to Queen Elizabeth II at her wedding
Did the Duchess of Sussex break from tradition?
At Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s 2018 royal wedding, viewers were left wondering if the Duchess of Sussex forgot to curtsy to Queen Elizabeth II.
When it comes to royal weddings, tradition and etiquette take centre stage. One of the most important gestures is the curtsy to the monarch.
But following Prince Harry and Meghan‘s nuptials at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, confusion spread online. Some people wondered whether Meghan had curtsied to the late queen.
Did Meghan curtsy to the Queen on her wedding day?
Viewers across the globe, along with the 600 guests in attendance, watched closely as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex exchanged vows.
However, following the ceremony and national anthem, many questioned whether the couple had followed royal protocol and paid their respects to the queen.
Traditionally, the groom bows their heads while the bride offers a curtsy when passing by the monarch.
Meghan had previously curtsied to Queen Elizabeth II during her first ever meeting with the monarch. Therefore, it seemed unlikely she would omit it on such a significant day.
But the confusion stemmed not from a breach in etiquette, but rather a poorly timed camera cut during the live broadcast.
Just as Prince Harry was seen beginning to bow his head after the anthem, the camera abruptly shifted to a sweeping aerial shot of the chapel, completely obscuring what happened next.
Meghan did actually curtsy to the queen. But it was a very bad camera angle.
By the time the close-up returned, the couple was already walking down the aisle. This led many to assume they had skipped the gesture altogether.
However, royal watchers were quick to investigate, and one expert stepped in to clear the air.
“Meghan did actually curtsy to the queen. But it was a very bad camera angle,” Elliot from The Royal Reviewer News Show explained in a YouTube video addressing the speculation.
“Because of the way the camera is, it kind of obscures it slightly. And you don’t get the full effect of the curtsy. But I’m going to end all speculation. Meghan did in fact curtsy to the queen.”
Traditions Meghan and Harry ‘broke’ at their royal wedding
While Meghan did curtsy as expected, the couple did break with some other long-standing traditions.
Notably, Meghan reportedly gave a speech at their wedding reception. This is something traditionally reserved for the groom, the father of the bride, and the groom’s best man.
Despite these personal touches, the couple still embraced many royal customs.
They married in a midday ceremony, used seasonal white flowers including peonies, posed for a formal family portrait, and even drove off in a classic silver-blue Jaguar E-Type.
Read more: The quiet death of Queen Elizabeth II – Inside her final hours after a life filled with duty
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