12/23/16 12/23/16

British Royal Family Facts

49 Facts Every Die-Hard Fan of the British Royal Family Should Know

December 23, 2016 by Laura Marie Meyers

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Royal Etiquette

If you're ever lucky enough to meet the queen, you should first call her "Your Majesty," and from there you can refer to her as "ma'am."
For royals with "HRH" ahead of their name, they should be referred to as "Your Royal Highness" when you first greet them and then either "sir" or "ma'am" moving forward.
Do you have to curtsy or bow to the queen? Not by law, but many British subjects who want to keep with tradition or show respect to the royals may do so.
As for handshakes, they're fair game, but you shouldn't offer your hand to a royal to shake. Instead, you should wait for them to offer their hands to you, and aside from that, there should be no other touching. (Hence everyone freaking out when First Lady Michelle Obama put her hand on the queen's back during a reception.)
The royals should also be the ones guiding conversation, and people who are set to meet members of the royal family are typically told not to ask direct questions.
Oh, and no asking for selfies. (Or autographs.)

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