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Daily Record
Daily Record
Entertainment
Zoe Forsey & Kirsten McStay

The reason why Kate Middleton didn't curtsy to King Charles at Commonwealth Day service

Yesterday, key members of The Firm turned out at Westminster Abbey for this year's Commonwealth Day Service and, before taking their seats, King Charles and Queen Camilla exchanged small talk with the rest of the family.

The couple were seen chatting away to the Prince and Princess of Wales and the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, as well as Princess Anne and her husband, writes The Mirror.

However, many fans of the royal family who watched the service were left confused as to why Kate didn't curtsy to her father-in-law.

According to Royal protocol, Kate, along with other female members of the family including Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Meghan Markle and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, must curtsey to the King and Queen Camilla as they are the most senior members of the family and male royals are expected to bow their heads.

Kate has curtsied in the past for both the late Queen and more recently King Charles.

However, Royals only have to carry out the act the first time they see them each day, which could explain why Kate hadn't curtsied. It suggests Kate must have seen her royal in-laws earlier ahead of the official event, which kicked off in the afternoon.

The royals chatted before taking their seats in Westminster Abbey (BBC)

It is unknown if they met up prior to the event but the two royal couples arrived in separate cars and, once they stepped out, they had to battle strong winds as they walked into the Abbey - which will be the setting for Charles's Coronation in just a few weeks times.

Kate looked beautiful as she wore an Erdem navy suit with a matching hat and a broach with the Prince of Wales feathers paired with earrings that belonged to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.

The theme for this year's Commonwealth Day, Charles's first as King, is Forging a Sustainable and Peaceful Common Future.

She arrived with husband Prince William (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

King Charles broke away from tradition and gave his Commonwealth Day Message in person. His late mother always did it pre-recorded or as a written statement.

Drawing on the theme, he emphasised the values of the family of nations from “peace and justice” to “care for our environment” embodied in the Commonwealth Charter, signed 10 years ago.

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