Julia Gillard, the Prime Minister of Australia, has been criticised by monarchists for not curtsying to Britain’s feudal head of state, Elizabeth Windsor.
Earlier this year Irish President Mary McAleese showed that she has more respect for the Irish people she represents than for feudal rulers by also refusing to demean herself for Windsor’s benefit. Ireland is a republic and not a part of the British Commonwealth.
But Australia and fourteen other nations follow Britain in excluding all but members of the Windsor clan from the position of head of state. British-born Ms. Gillard is reported to be a republican.
A curtsey is a peculiar gesture of deference by women towards those they consider their class superiors that involves bending the knees with one foot forward and a lowering of the body.
According to the Press Association Ms. Gillard hinted at her hope that Australia will free itself from the monarchy that calls for such demeaning behaviour by telling Windsor at a state reception that the former British colony was still a nation “on the move”.