Tips for Bush on Meeting the Queen

ByABC News via logo
July 18, 2001, 9:09 AM

L O N D O N, July 18 -- Even for presidents of the former colonies, there is something daunting about meeting the Queen of England.

State visits are very formal affairs with complicated social rules that only the British completely understand. So how should the president from Texas conduct himself when he lunches with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on Thursday?

David Williamson, co-editor of Debrett's Guide to Etiquette and Modern Manners, says he would advise Bush to be himself when meeting the queen.

"Well, he will be meeting the queen as a head of state. My best advice would be to behave naturally. And you know, I imagine he is a reasonably well mannered man," Williamson said.

But

behaving naturally

can lead to trouble. For example, when Bush visited Spain last month, he gave King Juan Carlos a hug. That was fine in Spain. But you don't touch the Queen of England. It just isn't done although certain prime ministers from Down Under have had a hard time with this rule.

No Touchy-Feelers Allowed

In a 1999, a British Broadcasting Corp. TV report closely analyzed Australian Prime Minister John Howard's body language.

"As the Prime Minister John Howard escorted the queen at a parliamentary reception in Canberra, he came close to touching her," the BBC said. "It brought back memories of her last visit eight years ago when the then-Prime Minister, republican Paul Keating, put his arm around her and sparked controversy. Today Mr. Howard, a staunch monarchist, denied he made any contact with the queen. He had he said simply been guiding her."

So how does one know how to act around the queen? It just so happens there is a rule book of sorts on the subject in Britain. It's called Debrett's Guide to Etiquette and Modern Manners.

Rule No. 1 one on being presented and taking leave of a member of the royal family: It is usual for men to bow and for women to curtsy. For Britons, not to do so is considered churlish.

So to avoid appearing churlish, President Bush should not offer to shake hands unless the queen offers hers first. He should address her "Your Majesty." And if he bows, he should bend from the neck, not from the waist.