在英国的传统皇室礼仪中，女性见到女王或比自己地位更高的人要行屈膝礼，那什么是屈膝礼呢？屈膝礼应该怎么做才正确？今天小K就带大家来了解一下英国的屈膝礼吧~

　　curtsey（屈膝礼）的历史

　　The curtsey is a traditional gesture of greeting by a girl or a woman to someone more senior in social rank and dates back to at least the Middle Ages.

　　在英国，屈膝礼是女性（无论年长或年幼）向比自己社会地位更高的人打招呼的传统姿势，至少可以追溯到中世纪。

　　It is derived from a 'courtesy' and is simply a mark of respect. It became gender specific in the 17th century, with men adopting the bow, and women the curtsey.

　　它源自于一种“礼貌”，是一种尊重的标志。在17世纪，这一习俗成为了男女通用的礼节，男性鞠躬，女性行屈膝礼。

　　谁对谁行礼呢？

　　Members of the public are not bound to the traditions and protocols of the Royal Family, although they can choose to curtsey if they wish.

　　公众不受皇室传统和礼仪的约束，但如果他们愿意，也可以选择行屈膝礼。

　　The Queen herself has said she does not expect people to curtsey, and Buckingham Palace reflects this in its protocol advice.

　　不过女王自己曾说过，她不希望公众行屈膝礼，白金汉宫在礼仪建议中也反映了这一点。

　　Within the Royal Family, however, there are explicit rules as to who curtsies to whom. And yes, it's complicated. Obviously, everyone should curtsey to the Queen and Prince Philip.

　　而在皇室内部，对于谁向谁行屈膝礼则有明确的规定，这个很复杂。不过有一点很清楚，那就是每个人都应该向女王和菲利普亲王行屈膝礼。

　　即使在私下里，其他皇室女性在女王走进房间时，也需要对她做一个轻微的点头。

　　其他国家的王室成员该向英女王行礼吗？

　　Even members of foreign royal families normally curtsey and bow to Queen.

　　即使是外国皇室成员通常也会向英国女王行屈膝礼。因为女王在位已经65年了，比世界上其他皇室成员在位的时间都要久，所以出于礼貌和尊敬，他们也会向女王行屈膝礼。比如西班牙女王见到英国女王时就行过屈膝礼。

　　怎么行屈膝礼才优雅呢？

　　From a standing position, transfer your weight to one foot (usually the left). Place the ball of your other foot behind and slightly to the outside of your standing ankle.

　　从站立的姿势，把你的重量转移到一只脚(通常是左边)。把你另一只脚放在后面，稍微放在你站立的脚踝外侧。

　　Bend your front knee while keeping your torso upright and your hands relaxed at your sides. There is no need to hold your dress.

　　弯曲前膝盖，保持躯干直立，双手放松在身体两侧，没有必要提起你的裙子哦。

　　To come up, slowly straighten your knees, bringing your feet back into a parallel position. The whole motion should take a few seconds.

　　行完礼要站起来时，先慢慢伸直膝盖，双脚并拢即可。整个动作大概需要几秒钟。

　　来源：每日邮报