When royal ladies do the perfect curtsy from Kate Middleton to Meghan Markle

They've mastered the skill!

February 18, 2019Feb 18, 2019, 10:40 AM GMT

Sarah, Duchess of York, in yellow dress and green hat, waving on grass.

There are several rules the royal family have to follow, and for the women, one skill they will master over the years is the art of curtseying. It's an age-old sign of deep respect to greet the monarch with a curtsy. Sometimes, fans will see royal ladies bob down into a low curtsy and bow their head in public if they're seeing the Queen for the first time that day. Usually if they don't greet Her Majesty in this typical, respectful way, it's because they've already seen the monarch in private.

Let's take a look at the best royal curtsies, from seasoned family members including the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Beatrice, to Mike Tindall even joking around…

Sarah, Duchess of York

The Duchess of York regularly makes an appearance at Royal Ascot as a guest of her ex-husband Prince Andrew, and in 2019, Sarah showed off a perfect curtsy as the Queen rode past in her carriage. The mother-of-two even gave a little wave while Andrew, stood next to her, bowed his head.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton stand among formally dressed individuals on steps.

The Duchess of Cambridge

Kate did a dainty little curtsy during the Order of the Garter service in Windsor in 2019. The mother-of-three wore a stunning white Catherine Walker coat, topped with a beautiful hat by Lock & Co.

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Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stand on steps in formal attire.

The Duchess of Sussex

Despite being heavily pregnant, the Duchess of Sussex made sure to follow strict royal protocol at Christmas in 2018. Fans were impressed when they saw the mum-to-be bob down into a low curtsy in heels. The former actress had perfected her curtsy over the past year and her public appearance outside St Mary Magdalene's church showed the fruits of her practice.

Clad in a navy ensemble, Meghan confidently clasped her hands together as she placed one leg behind the other and bent her knee. She looked totally at ease compared to her first royal Christmas at Sandringham in 2017, when her curtsy was less deep and she relied on husband Prince Harry to tell her exactly when to bow.

Keep clicking for more photos of the royals!

Prince William and Kate Middleton stand with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at an outdoor event.

Naturally, Meghan appeared less confident at her first royal Christmas in 2017, when she publicly curtsied to the Queen but didn't bend down as much.

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Mike Tindall

Showing his good sense of humour, the Queen's grandson-in-law Mike Tindall attempted a curtsy of his own at Royal Ascot.

Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Queen Elizabeth II standing together outside a stone building.

The Duchess of Cambridge

Seasoned royal Kate had the perfect greeting for the Queen at Easter 2017.

Sarah, Duchess of York

Sarah, Duchess of York held onto her daughter Princess Beatrice for support as she curtsied to the Queen at Ascot.

Woman in pink dress and hat smiling and adjusting her skirt among other people.

Princess Beatrice

Beatrice showed fans how it's done, curtsying low while keeping her balance.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, stands with two young girls and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who holds a cane and assists a girl down steps.

Princess Eugenie

It's a respectful royal greeting she's been practising since her childhood, alongside younger sister Princess Eugenie. Adorable!

Diana, Princess of Wales in a green gown, shakes hands with a woman in a blue dress.

Princess Diana

But the royals don't always get it right! A misunderstanding back in 1993 saw Princess Diana breach protocol and curtsy to one of the dignitaries during the Malaysian state visit in London.

Felipe VI of Spain assists Anne, Princess Royal, who is kneeling, at a formal event.

Princess Anne

Princess Anne showed her respects to her mother's counterpart, King Felipe VI of Spain.

Charles, Prince of Wales, stands with a woman in a striped dress who playfully kicks him.

Princess Diana

Princess Diana did the same with Felipe's father, King Juan Carlos, back in 1987.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, in a white dress and hat, walking with two other women.

The Countess of Wessex

The utterly elegant Countess of Wessex perfecting her royal curtsy.

A woman in a white striped dress and hat bends down on a grassy field, with several formally dressed individuals standing nearby.

With a straight back and bending low, Sophie shows us how it's done.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in a white suit and hat, stands with Kate Middleton in a red dress at an event.

The Duchess of Cornwall

The Duchess of Cornwall, alongside the Duchess of Cambridge, timed their curtsies to perfection as the Queen drove past them after the Order of the Garter Service in 2016.