As she enters this new stage of childhood—marked around her birthday on June 4, 2026—she is expected to observe traditional royal protocol, even while being raised primarily in the United States, away from most of her royal relatives.
Royal expert Marlene Eilers Koenig explained this detail in comments shared with HELLO!, clarifying a common misconception about royal etiquette. She noted that by the age of five, royal children are generally expected to follow a specific rule of respect within the monarchy: they only curtsy or bow to the reigning sovereign. Contrary to some assumptions, one royal highness does not curtsy to another of equal rank.
She further clarified that bowing and curtsying are considered matters of etiquette rather than strict rules of hierarchy. Typically, individuals are expected to bow or curtsy when they first meet the monarch and again when they depart.
For example, during royal gatherings such as Christmas services, members of the royal family—including the Cambridges, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle—have been seen performing these gestures when the Queen arrived or left. However, senior royals like King Charles would not perform this gesture in the same setting if they had already been in her presence.
This same etiquette tradition is expected to apply to Princess Lilibet when she meets senior members of the royal family, including her grandfather.
Etiquette specialist Myka Meier of Beaumont Etiquette also emphasized that royal training often begins early in life, stating that children are introduced to formal manners “as soon as they’re old enough to sit at a table.”
She added that royal upbringing typically includes structured exposure to formal meals, official events, and lessons in behavior—ranging from voice control to appropriate dress codes—helping them adapt to the expectations of royal life from a young age.
