Princess Meghan of Sussex, also known as Meghan Markle, is married to Prince Harry, who is a member of the British royal family. In the traditional rules of British royal protocol, members of the royal family who are of lower rank must curtsy or bow to those of higher rank.
However, the specific rules and guidelines for curtsying within the royal family can be complex and depend on various factors such as birthright, marriage, and position within the family.
To better understand who would typically curtsy to Princess Meghan, let's examine the hierarchical structure of the British royal family.
At the top of the family tree is the reigning monarch, which, as of my knowledge cutoff, is Queen Elizabeth II. As the Queen, she holds the highest rank and is therefore curtsied to by all other members of the royal family, including Princess Meghan.
Next in line to curtsy to the Queen would be the senior members of the royal family, which typically include Prince Philip, the Queen's husband, and the direct heirs to the throne.
Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, would be one of the senior members who holds a higher rank than Princess Meghan. Consequently, she would curtsy to him.
The next generation in the line of succession includes Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, and his wife, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge. Since Prince William is the direct heir to the throne after his father, Prince Charles, Princess Meghan would also curtsy to him.
As for Catherine, her position within the family is below Prince Harry, and therefore, she would curtsy to Princess Meghan.
Other members of the royal family, such as Princess Anne (the Queen's daughter) and her children, would also be expected to curtsy to Princess Meghan as she holds a higher rank through marriage to Prince Harry.
Princess Anne's daughter, Zara Tindall, for instance, would curtsy to Princess Meghan despite being the Queen's granddaughter.
It is worth noting that the British royal family also includes extended members who are not in the direct line of succession.
While they may have titles and royal status, their rank may be lower than Princess Meghan's due to her marriage into the family. In such cases, these extended members would curtsy to her. For instance, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, who are the daughters of Prince Andrew, would curtsy to Princess Meghan.
It's important to mention that the rules of curtsying within the royal family are subject to change and can be influenced by personal relationships and family dynamics.
Additionally, in early 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their decision to step back as senior members of the royal family, leading to discussions and subsequent changes in their titles and roles.
These developments may have further implications on the rules and expectations of curtsying within the family.
