The Prince and Princess of Wales had a romantic mode of transportation for the Garter Day service at Windsor Castle

Kate Middleton and Prince William at Garter Day on June 15, 2026.Credit :  Chris Jackson / POOL / AFP/Getty

Kate Middleton showed off her picture-perfect curtsy not once, but twice, on the same day.

The Princess of Wales, 44, accompanied members of the royal family to the Garter Day ceremony at Windsor Castle on Monday, June 15. There, she watched as the members of the Order of the Garter had a procession on the castle grounds, all wearing their traditional velvet robes and feathered caps.

Princess Kate smiled when she saw her husband, Prince William, in the parade, but she had a more formal greeting when King Charles and Queen Camilla passed. Kate — along with Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh and others gathered around them — dipped into a curtsy as the royal couple went by, as seen in a video posted on Instagram by royal reporter Emily Nash.

Queen Camilla and King Charles at Garter Day on June 15, 2026. Chris Jackson / POOL / AFP/Getty

After the service inside St. George’s Chapel, King Charles and Queen Camilla were the first to depart in a horse-drawn carriage that would take them back to Windsor Castle. As the couple’s coach took off, Princess Kate effortlessly pulled off her second curtsy of the day, as seen in a live stream of the event.

The Prince and Princess of Wales then climbed into their own carriage for the ride back to the castle, waving at the crowds gathered outside as they went.

Kate Middleton at Garter Day on June 15, 2026.Jordan Pettitt / POOL / AFP/Getty

Despite her own royal status, the Princess of Wales is often spotted curtsying as a sign of respect to King Charles, 77, and Queen Camilla, 78. All members of the British royal family, including those with His/Her Royal Highness (HRH) styling, are known to bow or curtsy to the monarch and his wife when greeting them. Even the King’s children follow suit, and Prince William has been seen bowing his head to say hello to his father and stepmother.

Kate Middleton, Sophie, Prince Edward and Prince William at Garter Day on June 15, 2026.Henry NICHOLLS / POOL / AFP/Getty

When royals don’t bow or curtsy to greet the King and Queen, they may have already seen each other that day. In addition to the formal gesture, Charles and Camilla are often seen greeting family members with kisses on the cheek and hugs.

Traditionally, women curtsy while men bow their heads when meeting a member of the royal family. However, it’s also perfectly acceptable to take a less formal route and simply shake hands when being introduced to a royal.

Kate Middleton sees Prince William in the Garter Day procession on June 15, 2026.Chris Jackson/Getty

Garter Day takes place every year at Windsor Castle to celebrate the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in Britain. The roots of the Order can be traced back to medieval times, when King Edward III created it because he was inspired by tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

The event also marked a major milestone in William and Kate’s relationship. The future Princess of Wales made her debut at the event in 2008, when her then-boyfriend received his knighthood in the Order of the Garter. Her presence there was significant because it showed that Kate was being welcomed into the royal family fold, two years before they got engaged.

Kate Middleton at Garter Day on June 15, 2026.Chris Jackson / Getty

In another nod to their love story, Princess Kate accessorized her yellow outfit with the same earrings that she wore on her April 2011 wedding day. The diamond earrings by Robinson Pelham were a bespoke wedding gift from her parents, and they feature an oak leaf stud suspending an acorn within a pear-shaped drop, nodding to the Middleton family crest.

SOURCE: https://people.com/kate-middleton-curtsies-king-charles-twice-garter-day-before-carriage-ride-prince-william-11998014