When it comes to royal etiquette, there’s no handbook handed out at the palace gates—just a lot of tradition and expectations.
And for Meghan Markle, a Hollywood actress thrust into the heart of British royalty, that introduction came in one surreal, unforgettable moment: meeting the Queen.
But how Meghan handled it—and how Prince Harry reacted—has remained a hot topic of debate.
“You Know How to Curtsy, Right?”
In the Harry & Meghan Netflix docuseries, Meghan opened up about her first meeting with Queen Elizabeth II.
It wasn’t a grand affair—just a casual lunch at the Royal Lodge in Windsor—but to Meghan, it felt like stepping into a Renaissance-themed dinner show.
“It was like Medieval Times,” she joked, referring to the popular American restaurant chain known for its sword fights and turkey legs.
The moment, however, wasn’t exactly charming to everyone.
Meghan, giggling as she recounted it, reenacted a dramatic, over-the-top curtsy that left Prince Harry visibly uncomfortable beside her.
Stone-faced, he glanced away from the camera, clearly unsure how to react.
A Shock to the System
What made the scene even more surprising is how it unfolded so casually.
Meghan claimed she didn’t even know she was going to meet the Queen until moments before.
“We were in the car and Harry was like, ‘Oh, my grandmother is here after church,’” she recalled, still seemingly bewildered.
Harry, trying to explain the weight of royal tradition, said, “How do you explain to someone that you bow to your grandmother?” He acknowledged that Meghan, as an American, wasn’t prepared for the reality of royal customs. “It was a bit of a shock to the system for her.”
The Internet Wasn’t Impressed
That reenactment caused a stir when the docuseries aired.
Viewers flooded social media with criticism, calling the curtsy “disrespectful” and “tone-deaf.”
Others zeroed in on Harry’s body language, suggesting he looked “very uncomfortable” as Meghan poked fun at the whole scene.
And body language experts weighed in too. Louise Mahler noted Harry appeared “deeply besotted,” while Meghan, she suggested, may have been dramatizing their love story “for the public.”
Theatrics, after all, are nothing new for the former Suits actress.
But Wait—She Did Know How to Curtsy?
Adding fuel to the fire, an old clip from Suits resurfaced showing Meghan performing a perfect little curtsy as her character Rachel Zane.
It was part of a lighthearted scene, but fans were quick to question: If she could do it on set, why act so clueless with the Queen?
It led some to wonder whether her exaggerated gesture in the documentary was genuine naivety—or a well-rehearsed act.
Hugging Royals, Googling Anthems, and That Royal Wave
Meghan’s bumpy adjustment to royal life didn’t stop at curtsies.
In the docuseries, she admitted she had to Google the British national anthem early in her relationship with Harry.
She practiced “God Save the Queen” repeatedly just to get it right.
Then there were hugs. Meghan, naturally affectionate, said she didn’t realize how “jarring” hugging could be for Brits.
“The formality on the outside carried through on the inside,” she explained.
Even waving became a cultural lesson—no one taught her how, and she joked about not wanting to wave like an overly enthusiastic American.
A Brief Bond with the Queen
Despite the awkward beginnings, Meghan did share one-on-one time with the Queen. During a joint engagement in 2018, cameras even captured the Queen laughing at something Megha
n said.
For a moment, it seemed things were going well. Even the Daily Mail ran the headline: “How Did Meghan Make One So Amused?”
But behind the scenes, there were hiccups. A now-famous video showed the pair hesitating over who should get into a car first.
Meghan tried to follow protocol but ended up stepping in ahead of the Queen—a small moment that got blown out of proportion.
Royal expert Tina Brown later wrote that the Queen had a “twinkle in her eye” as she let Meghan go first, suggesting it was more lighthearted than scandalous.
Still, Prince Harry later described the media’s take on the trip as a “disaster,” blaming the press for portraying Meghan as “pushy” and clueless about protocol.
Was It All an Act?
It’s no secret Meghan’s transition into the royal family was anything but smooth.
Joining “The Firm” at 36 meant learning centuries of tradition practically overnight.
But critics have long wondered whether she leaned into her acting roots to control the narrative—or stir the pot.
Her exaggerated curtsy, jokes about royal formality, and public revelations in interviews painted a picture of a woman who, some argue, never fully embraced—or respected—the institution she married into.
Others believe she simply didn’t fit the mold and made the best of a surreal situation.
One Thing’s Clear—She Was Never Meant to Blend In
Whether you view her as a misunderstood outsider or a media-savvy disruptor, Meghan Markle has never blended quietly into the background.
Her dramatic flair, candid storytelling, and refusal to conform have made her one of the most talked-about women in the world.
And judging by the continued fascination with that one curtsy, the world is still watching.