Meghan Markle was surprised by this royal tradition when she first met the Queen

Given that the British Monarchy has existed for centuries, there are plenty of traditions that have been passed down over the years... with some being stranger than others. From the odd tradition that sees the Queen take a hostage every year (yep, you read that right), to the lengthy list of rules royal parents have to follow when they welcome a new baby. It's no wonder then, that some of these traditions can come as a surprise for people who haven't grown up within the Royal Family, and one of those people is Meghan Markle – who actually had to have a crash course in curtsying, thanks to Prince Harry.

In fact, when Meghan met the Queen for the first time, she wasn't expecting to have to curtesy behind closed doors, believing it to be a tradition that was just upheld whilst in public. As such, ahead of meeting Her Majesty, she had to have a quick lesson from then husband-to-be Prince Harry.

"I remember Harry and I were in the car and he says, 'OK, well my grandmother's going to be there so you’re going to meet her," the Duchess of Sussex recalled during her history-making interview with Oprah Winfrey last year. "I said, 'OK great! I loved my grandmother, I used to take care of my grandmother.' He goes, 'Right, do you know how to curtsy?'"

That's when Meghan admitted that she didn't realise the Royal Family curtsied to each other when they weren't in the public eye. "I thought genuinely that’s what happens outside, that was part of the fanfare, I didn’t think that’s what happens inside," she added.

As for how to curtsy in front of the Queen, Meghan pointed out that curtsies to Her Majesty should be done "deeply" – as this a sign of respect. "I learned it very quickly," she recalled.

Luckily, the pair's first meeting went down a royal treat, according to royal expert Ashley Pearson. Speaking on Channel 5's Harry & Meghan vs the Monarchy documentary, Pearson said: "The meeting went extremely well. It actually ran over, which is an extraordinary thing for the way the Queen keeps her schedule."

He added, "Meghan was warmly welcomed. Here she is – articulate, bright, intelligent, well-spoken, beautiful, elegant — what is not to like?"

Sounds like that impromptu curtsy lessons was a hit then!

Jade Biggs

Freelance Writer

Jade Biggs (she/her) is one of Cosmopolitan UK's freelance writers, working across all sections including entertainment, beauty, body, and sex and relationships. She previously held the position of Features Writer, covering everything from breaking news and the latest royal gossip, to the health and fitness trends taking over your TikTok feed. Jade has a degree in journalism and has been a journalist and content editor for ten years, interviewing leading researchers, high-profile influencers, and industry experts in that time. She is a cat mom to four fur babies and is obsessed with Drag Race, bottomless brunches, and wearing clothes only suitable for Bratz dolls. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.