Here's When Prince George and Princess Charlotte Will Have to Start Bowing to the Queen
Here's when Prince George and Princess Charlotte will have to start bowing and curtseying to the Queen.

There are certain perks that come with being the Queen. Among them? People have to literally bow down to you—and that includes the rest of the royal family. Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle all have to bow or curtsey when they meet the Queen and again when they leave. Careful royal watchers have probably noticed that two members of the royal fam don't participate in this tradition: Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
That's all going to change soon, especially for Prince George. Hello! reports that the requirement to bow to Queen Elizabeth kicks in at an early age—usually around age five.
Marlene Eilers Koenig—a royal historian and the woman behind the Royal Musings blog— told Hello! that the bowing/curtsying tradition starts early. "Certainly by age five. The only person they will be curtsy or bow to is the sovereign. A royal highness does not curtsy to another royal highness."
Since Prince George just celebrated his fifth birthday (on a private island, no less), that means we can expect to start seeing him bow down to his great grandmother at public appearances very soon.
Charlotte, who is only three years old, probably has a couple more years of curtsey-free interactions with her great grandma. Although, knowing Charlotte and her penchant for stealing all of the attention when cameras are out, her curtseys will probably be next level adorable when she does start. Prince Louis, who is still a newborn and doesn't even know what a bow or curtsey is yet, obviously doesn't have to worry about this any time soon.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with over 10 years of professional experience covering entertainment of all genres, from new movie and TV releases to nostalgia, and celebrity news. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
Michelle Obama Lassos an Unexpectedly Western Look for SXSW
She seems ready for the 'Cowboy Carter' tour.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Kaia Gerber Has Carried This Tote Bag for Six Months Straight
It's finally back in stock.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
Patina Miller’s Sultry New Manicure Is Reviving This Dramatic Nail Shape
It's also easier to DIY than you think.
By Ariel Baker Published
-
Prince George Will Make History and Become the First Monarch to Have This Unusual Family Trait
The 11-year-old will one day mark a major royal first.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
This Royal Could Become Prince George's "Greatest Asset" When He Becomes King
A new documentary reveals who George could lean on for support.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William and Princess Kate Aim for "Normalizing Experiences" So Their Kids Don't Think They're "Elevated"
The princess is integrating her "Middleton upbringing and her family values."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince George Nearly Had a Different Name That Princess Kate "Set Her Heart On"
It's hard to imagine him as anything else.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Why Princess Charlotte's Birth Announcement Was Almost Thrown Into Chaos, According to Kate and William's Former Aide
"It was one of those things, like, heart in mouth until we got to the announcement."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Kate Middleton Kept Her Cancer Diagnosis Secret for So Long Because She "Hadn't Told" George, Charlotte, and Louis Yet
"It was awful, absolutely awful," a former royal aide explained.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Queen Camilla and Princess Charlotte Share a Sweet Style Connection
It's unexpectedly touching.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Princess Kate "Put Her Foot Down" and Refused to Let George, Charlotte, and Louis Take Part in "Blooding" Tradition
The Princess of Wales is raising her kids on her own terms.
By Amy Mackelden Published