Princess Lilibet turned five on 4 June, and the birthday brings a new royal expectation for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s daughter. At this age, royal children are generally expected to bow or curtsy when greeting the reigning monarch. That means Lilibet would be expected to curtsy when meeting King Charles and Queen Camilla. The custom is one of the most visible signs of royal etiquette and applies when children are old enough to understand formal greetings. For Lilibet, the milestone links her California upbringing with a long-standing palace tradition.
Marlene Eilers Koenig Explains the Curtsy Age
Royal expert Marlene Eilers Koenig previously outlined the timing of the custom in comments to Hello Magazine. "Certainly by age five. The only person they will curtsy or bow to is the sovereign. A royal highness does not curtsy to another royal highness. Yes, there are articles that state this, but it is not true," said Marlene Eilers Koenig according to Hello!. She also explained that bowing and curtseying are matters of etiquette rather than rank, and that royals typically repeat the gesture when leaving the sovereign after a first greeting.
King Charles Protocol Applies Only to the Sovereign
The rule is narrower than many royal watchers assume. Children are not expected to curtsy to every senior royal, only to the monarch. That distinction matters in a family as layered as the House of Windsor. Koenig also pointed to past public appearances at Christmas church services, where younger royals bowed or curtsied when Queen Elizabeth II arrived and again when she departed. Senior family members who had already seen the late Queen earlier that day did not repeat the gesture, showing how specific and situational the protocol can be.
Meghan Markle Shares New Birthday Photo of Lilibet
The birthday update also included a fresh glimpse of Lilibet at home in Montecito. Meghan posted a photo of her daughter walking barefoot through the garden in a light summer dress, offering a rare look at the young princess’s life in California. "Our dream girl. Happy 5th birthday, Lili," Meghan Markle told Hello!. The image showed Lilibet wearing a beige Cult Gaia sundress with embroidered flowers, a piece she had worn before. The repeat outfit added a personal touch to the family celebration and echoed Meghan’s preference for relaxed, polished dressing.
Archie and Lilibet Grow Up Far From Palace Life
Lilibet and her brother Prince Archie, 7, are growing up in a very different setting from Prince William and Princess Kate’s children. Their daily life in Montecito is far removed from palace routines, formal public engagements, and the steady exposure to court customs that shape many young royals. Even so, age-based etiquette rules still form part of their place within the royal family. As Lilibet reaches five, that balance between private American childhood and inherited royal protocol becomes clearer, especially during moments tied to major family milestones.
