Curtsying

[allenlondon]

When I saw the scene on The Crown where Diana Spencer entered a room containing the queen and other bigwigs and got the curtsying business wrong, I thought it was an invention by the producers to underline the nonsense of the monarchy.

Not a bit of it.

Peter Wilby, in his weekly 'First Thoughts' column in the New Statesman, relates this story. An elderly monarchist wanted to 'do her bit' after Diana Spencer was killed, so got an unpaid job at Kensington Palace dealing with the post and such like.

One day she was carrying a tray of tea and biscuits along a corridor when she encountered Princess Anne, and the protocol was to curtsy. The old woman didn't, fearful that she might drop her tea and biscuits.

Later that day, she was reprimanded by her superiors; Anne had reported her insubordination. The old women left the Palace immediately, foreswearing any future support for the monarchy or any of their hangers-on.

Curtsy my Jim Royle.

[allenlondon]

Curtsying?

In the 21st century?

[Jackdaw33]

And why not?

[1ozzy]

For the same reason people are no longer beheaded.
An old tradition that is sexist and demeaning.

[emmie]

i must admit that its old fashioned and outdated, so why still do it -

[AuntPollyGrey]

I too think Curtsying (comes from the word Courtesy) is outdated 'Women were expected to curtsy rather than bow for modesty reasons when the fashion was for low cut dresses. I think curtsying should be replaced with a respectful bow of the head for males and females, its a start at least.

[naomi24]

Mozz, I haven’t accused anyone of anything. That’s one hell of a chip you drag from thread to thread. No surprise you’re tetchy and rude. That would get anyone down.

[Mozz71]

No chips Naomi, just reacting to what is said by others. The fact that it often seems to be you and your deluded sense of superiority just goes to show how full of yourself you are.

Anyway, I know you haven't accused anyone of anything, but you tried to justify why others have suggested Margaret was a possible cause.

[jennyjoan]

I remember reading this here (AB) about Prince Andrew calling into the downstairs area where staff were enjoying a cuppa at the table. He said "I'm going back out and when I come in I'd like yous all to stand up".

[naomi24]

Oh dear, Mozz. You have it bad. :o)

[johnny.5]

but do they turn into lizards ?

[Peter Pedant]

// Mozz, I haven’t accused anyone of anything. //
er today that is !

c'mon mozza admit it - you have MASSIVE chip on account of failing to get curtseying when everyone was doing it in form 1 as a five year old

I know these things - - - hi evry-bardy

[allenlondon]

jennyjoan's anecdote ("I remember reading this... about Prince Andrew calling into the downstairs area where staff were enjoying a cuppa at the table. He said "I'm going back out, and when I come in I'd like yous all to stand up".)

That, and all the little snippets over the years, have convinced me that I should definitely NOT have followed the trade of my great-grand pa - he was a butler.

I would have lasted about 60 seconds in one of the posh houses he worked in, and might even have been hung for my troubles.

Courtesy, respect, politeness, yes to all of them.

But belly-crawling?

Not in my world, chum.