How Queen Elizabeth broke Royal protocol for Princess Diana?

For generations, the Royal Family has upheld strict traditions, with etiquette drilled into its members from an early age. Among these customs, one rule stands above all—everyone bows or curtsies to the monarch, but the sovereign bows to no one.

Queen Elizabeth II adhered to this principle unwaveringly throughout her historic 70-year reign—except for one extraordinary moment.

On September 6, 1997, as Princess Diana’s funeral procession passed by, the Queen did something unprecedented: she bowed her head. 

It was a simple yet profound gesture from a woman who had spent a lifetime being bowed to—a moment of humility that spoke volumes.

The Queen’s tribute to Diana was widely interpreted as a response to public grief, following criticism of the royal family's initial silence in the wake of the princess’s tragic death. 

Having lost her royal status after divorcing Prince Charles in 1996, Diana was technically no longer part of the monarchy. Yet, to the world, she remained the beloved "People’s Princess."

That single bow defied tradition, but it also acknowledged the emotions of millions mourning Diana’s untimely passing. 

It was a rare moment where protocol gave way to the weight of public sentiment—an act that would forever be remembered in royal history.