Meghan Markle joke about meeting Queen for first time is causing controversy

Brits have been glued to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's new Netflix doc ever since it dropped on the streaming platform on Thursday (8 December).

But there's one scene in particular that seems to have divided viewers, with some calling it 'disrespectful' to the late Queen.

In the doc, Harry & Meghan, Meghan recalls meeting Harry's grandmother for the first time in 2016:

Meghan said that she hadn't been prepared to meet the monarch, and wasn't aware it would be happening until shortly before.

“My grandmother was the first senior member of the family that Meghan met,” Harry said. “She had no idea what it all consisted of. So it was a bit of a shock to the system for her.

“How do you explain that to people? How do you explain that you bow to your grandmother? And that you would need to curtsy, especially to an American. That’s weird.”

Meghan explained she was in the car with Harry when he asked if she knew how to curtsy.

“We were in the car, driving and he’s like: ‘You know how to curtsy right?’ and I just thought it was a joke,” she admitted.

The Duchess then compared the formalities to 'Medieval Times, Dinner and Tournament,' adding: “Americans will understand this,” before bowing her head in a deep curtsy for the camera.

“It was like that. Like, I curtsied as though I was like... Pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty," she said.

The camera then zoomed in on Harry's face, who appeared to be a little uncomfortable.

“Like, was that okay?” she added. “It was so intense.”

Netflix

People on social media were also a little uncomfortable by the moment, with some describing it as 'disrespectful'.

"This was so totally disrespectful. The late Queen always deserved our respect," one person wrote.

While another said: "I absolutely fully support them & their decision to leave the RF but (although I haven’t watched the show) I actually found this clip very uncomfortable even if Meghan was supposedly mocking herself. I don’t agree with curtsying but this seemed v disrespectful to the late Queen."

Others however, claimed that Meghan was mocking herself and her own 'lack of knowledge'.

"How is Meghan, mocking her own lack of knowledge, disrespectful?" one asked, while others said Harry should have ensured that the former Suits actor knew the protocol beforehand.

“Harry should have made sure Meghan knew how to curtsy and when to curtsy before meeting his grandmother. Why is everyone else at fault but not her boyfriend who should be looking out for her?” one viewer said.

PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo

Over on the royal family's website, it previously explained that while there were 'no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting the Queen,' many 'observe the traditional form'.

It adds: "For men this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy."