Princess Lilibet Must Now Curtsy to King Charles, Royal Etiquette Rule Kicks In

By Danny Kontos

June 11, 2026

02:11 PM

3 min read

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Key Points

Princess Lilibet turned five on June 4, triggering formal royal etiquette rules.

Royal children must curtsy to the sovereign upon greeting and departure, a tradition tied to etiquette not rank.

Royal expert Marlene Eilers Koenig confirmed the age-five milestone marks when children begin curtsying.

Lilibet remains seventh in line to the British throne despite her parents' estrangement from the monarchy.

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Princess Lilibet turned five on June 4, and with that milestone comes a formal royal requirement. The young princess must now curtsy to King Charles III and Queen Camilla when greeting and leaving them, according to royal etiquette experts. This tradition applies to all royal children and marks a shift in how Lilibet interacts with the sovereign, regardless of her parents’ estrangement from the royal family.

When Royal Children Learn Formal Manners

Royal children begin learning etiquette as soon as they can sit at a table, according to etiquette expert Myka Meier. They are raised attending formal meals and events, practicing voice control and appropriate dress from an early age. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and Prince Archie all follow the monarchy’s rules.

The Curtsy Rule Explained

Royal expert Marlene Eilers Koenig told HELLO! that by age five, children must curtsy or bow to the sovereign only. A royal highness does not curtsy to another royal highness. Koenig emphasized that curtsying is etiquette, not precedence. The protocol requires a curtsy upon first seeing the sovereign and again when leaving. At Christmas church services, the Cambridges and Prince Harry and Meghan curtsied and bowed when Queen Elizabeth II arrived and departed.

Lilibet’s Fifth Birthday Marks a New Phase

Meghan Markle shared family photos on Instagram on June 9, including images of Lilibet in a “B is for Beyoncé” shirt. The birthday milestone now places formal royal protocol expectations on the young princess. King Charles sent a gift for her fifth birthday, though he has reportedly withheld a special wooden gift similar to one given to Prince George until the family feud dies down, according to royal expert Tom Quinn.

Estrangement Does Not Exempt Royal Children

Despite Prince Harry and Meghan’s ongoing estrangement from the royal family, Lilibet remains seventh in line to the British throne and subject to royal protocol. Harry reportedly believes his children could help repair his relationship with Prince William and King Charles. The formal etiquette rules apply regardless of family tensions, making the curtsy requirement a standard obligation for all royal children at her age.

Final Thoughts

Princess Lilibet’s fifth birthday triggers formal royal protocol: she must now curtsy to King Charles and Queen Camilla. This etiquette rule applies to all royal children and does not change despite her parents’ estrangement from the monarchy.

FAQs

At what age do royal children start curtsying?

Royal children must curtsy or bow to the sovereign by age five. They learn formal etiquette from younger ages through formal meals and events.

Does Princess Lilibet have to curtsy to other royals?

No. Royal children only curtsy to the sovereign. A royal highness does not curtsy to another royal highness under royal etiquette rules.

Why does Lilibet need to follow royal protocol if her parents left the family?

Lilibet remains seventh in line to the British throne. Royal protocol applies to all children in the line of succession regardless of their parents’ status.

Disclaimer:
The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.

About Author

Danny Kontos

Co Founder

Danny Kontos has been a stock investor since 2007 and co-founded Meyka in 2023. He keeps a small, focused portfolio and only moves when the numbers are hard to argue with. He has waited years on a single position before. Before Meyka, he ran a web hosting company and a mortgage lending platform, so he knows what a well-run business actually looks like under the hood. This article did not come from a news cycle. It came from someone who has been watching this space for a long time.