By Jack RoystonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberPrincess Kate inspiring members of the public to stand out of respect when she walks in was compared to Meghan Markle's famous curtsy to Queen Elizabeth II by royal fans online.
A viral TikTok video showing the Duchess of Sussex re-enact her first curtsy to the queen, which she said she got wrong, was contrasted with several clips of Kate.
The first showed the Princess of Wales attending the 2025 Irish Guards' St. Patrick's Day Parade at Wellington Barracks on March 17, when a crowd rose to its feet as she walked past.
And the second showed Kate arriving on Centre Court for the men's singles final of the Wimbledon Tennis Championship in July 2024, her second public appearance since beginning chemotherapy for cancer that February.
...Why It Matters
A newly posted TikTok video was liked 46,000 times and viewed 679,800 times, with the on-screen caption: "Respect."
Meghan's Curtsy to Queen Elizabeth II
Meghan was asked during her Netflix series Harry & Meghan, released in December 2022, about the first time she met Queen Elizabeth II, at Royal Lodge, the Windsor home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew.
And she compared her attempt at a curtsy to the live-action dinner theater show "Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament," suggesting she bowed forward, rather than curtsied.
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"I mean, Americans will understand this," Meghan said, "we have 'medieval times, dinner and tournament.' It was like that… 'Pleasure to meet you, your majesty, was that OK?' So intense."
Meghan may have intended to present herself as a relatable fish out of water, but the re-enactment was interpreted as disrespectful by many.
Interestingly, Prince Harry suggested in his book Spare that Meghan "dropped a deep, flawless curtsy," and neither mentioned a botched curtsy when they recounted the same story to Oprah Winfrey in 2021.
The Public Stand for Kate
Meanwhile, the first clip showed Kate being accompanied by Major General Sir Chris Ghika of the Irish Guards at the St. Patrick's Day parade.
As the princess walks, a line of people, some filming on their phones, can be seen rising to their feet out of respect for Kate's arrival. She has been an honorary colonel of the Irish Guards since 2022.
The second clip shows Kate arriving on Centre Court at Wimbledon in July 2024, just her second outing of the year following a cancer diagnosis and abdominal surgery.
Kate had been at the center of wild conspiracy theories on social media, with some claiming she had secretly died, following an operation in January 2024.
Kensington Palace had told the public not to expect her back at work, but did not announce her cancer, and when no post op photos emerged at all, people on social media began asking questions about why. A trend developed for asking, "Where is Kate Middleton?"
Under mounting pressure, the princess announced her diagnosis in a March video and asked for space to focus on her health. Her first public appearance was at the highly choreographed Trooping the Colour military parade, honoring King Charles III's official birthday.
When she stepped out at Wimbledon, it was the first time she was up close with the public and the first chance British people had to show their support for her.
Do you have a question about King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you.
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