Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is set to face an awkward predicament when he next meets his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, after being stripped of his royal titles. The Duke of York, who lost his titles last week amid ongoing scrutiny over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, will reportedly be required to bow to his own children as they retain their royal ranks.
According to the Daily Mail's Ephraim Hardcastle column, Andrew, now reduced to the rank of commoner, finds himself in the difficult position of having to bow to other members of the Royal Family, including his daughters. Royal biographer Robert Hardman believes Andrew will “probably” bow when greeting Beatrice and Eugenie, stating on the Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential podcast: “He will have to bow to everybody that’s assuming he’s in the room with the rest of the family.”
The columnist also recalls that Andrew was reportedly “quite boorish” to the Princess of Wales when she first joined the royal family, insisting on deference and curtsies. This has led to suggestions that Kate may feel a sense of schadenfreude at Andrew's current predicament.
The Royal Family website states there are no “obligatory codes” for greeting members of the Firm, but many choose to observe traditional forms. Men traditionally bow from the neck, while women curtsy. Kate, as Princess of Wales, now curtsies only to the King and Queen Camilla, and Prince William bows only to the King and Queen, according to reports.
Buckingham Palace formally announced last week that Andrew would lose the titles of prince and Duke of York, marking a significant demotion within the royal hierarchy.
