During today’s Remembrance ceremony at the Cenotaph in London a few people have asked me since to explain why various male members of the Royal Family and other uniformed participants were saluting differently and who is right and who is wrong.
The short answer is that no one was wrong. In Britain – and some other countries, there are two different types of salute. The Army and the Royal Air Force, who do not generally wear white gloves as part of the uniform will salute with the palm facing forward, as the Prince of Wales is doing in the picture below.
The Prince of Wales salutes
The Navy, who are typically found in white gloves when in their dress uniform, will salute with the palm facing down so not to show dirty palms. The Duke of Edinburgh, being a Naval man, saluted in this style earlier today.
The Duke of Edinburgh salutes naval style
Ladies who are not in the military but are accompanying people who are should bow their heads, as the Duchess of Cambridge did when travelling back from Westminster Abbey with her new husband after April’s Royal Wedding.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Finally, a salute should only happen when one is in military uniform.
Tags: Army, Britain, etiquette, military, Navy, protocol, RAF, Remembrance Sunday, royalty, salute, uniform
Great explanation about a detail of protocol I had never learned. So simple, yet so important.
Enjoyed reading this Blog on saluting. The rules differ in Canada. It can get very complicated, especially knowing when to salute at such an event as the Service of Remembrance. For instance, in Canada, on November 11th memorials, we salute for the National Anthem, the Royal Anthem, the Viceregal Salute, Last Post, Reveille (The Rouse), when the National Flag passes by, and, for the March Past. Lots to remember!
I am in a wheelchair. If I were to meet royalty, how can I acknowledge the queen or other members of the royal family?
Saluting with the handpalm open to the front will show that you are not hiding a knife or something else to attack an opposite person.
The origin of the military salute comes from the knights who wear a helmet. For the saluting ceremony you have to liftup the vizer of the helmet to open it, so the opposite person can see the eyes.
Long way up and short way down…
As an ex Royal Navy man myself, the other point to note about the Navy’s salute is shortest way and shortest way down – due to the limited space on board a ship (or a submarine as in my case).
Is it also the case (still) that RN officers are not considered Gentlemen – hence the ‘Ladies, Gentlemen and Officers of the Royal Navy’ opening at many dinners? This was due to their behaviour during the mutiny at Invergordon?
Being from the Colonies, the rules are different here, as they are in Canada. In 2008 US veterans, whether in uniform or not, were authorized by Congress to render the hand salute during playing of the National Anthem.
Good question! The answer would be to bow from the neck and only extend your hand if the member of the Royal Family’s hand is extended first. Hope this helps.