Prince Charles has a special way of greeting royal women
Royal greetings are a minefield, with rank and company often determining who bows and curtsies to who.
Someone who is known for putting their own personal spin on a royal greeting is Prince Charles.
Yes, the Prince of Wales is renowned for his unique greetings, from the double royal wave to the namaste bow.
It is his special greeting for royal women that made headlines this week, as photographs of Prince Charles greeting Queen Letizia of Spain went viral.
The future King greeted Queen Letizia with a kiss on each cheek, followed by a light kiss on the hand.
And while the gesture set the internet alight this week, on closer inspection Prince Charles has been practicing it for years, particularly with royal women of high rank.
This, according to royal experts, is a sign of respect.
Getty Images
Other recipients of the special greeting include Princess Mary of Denmark, Queen Mathilde of Belgium and of course Queen Elizabeth herself.
Getty Images
Getty Images
In fact, the greeting appears to date back through history, with Queen Victoria reportedly speaking about the gesture during her reign.
According to The Mirror, Queen Victoria once praised the then-Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli for the special greeting.
“He is full of poetry, romance and chivalry,” she reportedly announced. “When he knelt down to kiss my hand, he said ‘In loving loyalty and faith’.”
Well, that’s that.
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