Bowing to a Monarch?

Question

Why is it traditional to Bow to a Monarch(Britain).Is it an act of worship?

Answer 1

Merely an act of respect.  Even in some Engilsh-speaking cultures today, well-bred boys and girls are taught to bow or curtsey when being introduced to adults.  ANY adults.

Answer 2

It is not worship, it is a symbolic gesture.  A sign of respect for their position.

Answer 3

No.  It is a salute.  Or like a handshake.

(Handshakes are modern inventions!)

Answer 4

It is a matter of respect.  Nothing more.  I am a person who was free-born, and I consider myself to be the equal of any man or woman.  That being said, there are people who I respect, not the least of whom is the Queen of England.  

In my karate classes, I bow to the Master of the martial arts school and to the black belts who teach. It is also a matter of respect akin to the respect shown to the Queen.

Answer 5

Subservience, not worship, though the two are pretty similar.

And true of all monarchy going back thousands of years, not just Britain.

Answer 6

Nope... it's not an act of "worship"

It's a carry-over from olden times when feudal rules applied.  People were separated by social class... lower class, middle class, upper class, gentry, royals, etc.

It was a way of establishing that social pecking order ... if you were of a lower class than the person before you - you gave them "reverance" ... it was a way of presenting yourself to your superiors... and they, with great respect - would "raise you" from that reverance.

The closest modern equivalent I can think of right now is ... it's similar to the way modern soldiers salute officers of higher rank ... and a proper officer would return that salute.