Poor Julia Gillard. The Prime Minister of Australia has had some poor press over the last few days and fallen foul of critics when she was accused of disrespecting Queen Elizabeth II, by not following some rather archaic royal protocol and etiquette and not curtseying to her. In fact some of her critics clearly hadn’t been watching closely enough. Gillard, an avowed Republican chose to bow, if a little awkwardly to the Queen a fact that she put on record when the subsequent press rumpus was overshadowing the visit.

Personally I don’t think she should have felt the need to explain. The advice from the Palace is that every individual should do what they want. However, the press were still talking about it a couple of days later. You would have thought in these days of equality people would have been satisfied with a bow. Unless you’re a ballerina, or a very young child, anything close to resembling a curtsey from a grown up woman invariably lands up looking awkward or just plain ridiculous.

Whether the Queen herself minds, I’m sure no one really knows, but I’m sure that she’s well aware of how much the world has changed during her long reign and many formalities that she must have grown up with are now a thing of the past. For the monarchy to stay relevant it has to accept changes in the people if not themselves.

I’m not a monarchist or a republican but I have always found the idea of bowing or curtseying to another human being completely anachronistic. Many years ago I worked for a couture fashion house that was patronised by royalty and many titled ladies. As the newest recruit I not only helped in the stock room, but I was also the tea girl. In my first week a minor member of the Royal Family came for a dress fitting and I was asked to provide tea. I did but was faintly surprised to be told later that when I left the room I should have walked out backwards.

Being a bit of a rebel – I said that I was happy to provide tea but I certainly wouldn’t walk out of the room backwards. Of course the instructions were ridiculous and wrong, but even if they hadn’t been I baulked at the very idea that I should put myself in a position where I was somehow inferior. I was happy to serve tea and I was happy to address them correctly – but walking out of the room backwards? No like bowing or curtseying I believed this was a step too far.

The fact is life has changed and there is less formality in all areas of life, which depending on your point of view is a good thing or a bad thing, and the monarchy is not and should not be immune to that. Some argue that to bow or curtsey to the Queen is a matter of respect. I agree that it’s about respect. The press should respect an individual’s right to choose just as the palace advise.