It was a heartbreaking scene to witness when Princess Anne curtsied to her mother, Queen Elizabeth II‘s coffin days before her funeral in 2022.

The heartwrenching tribute left royal fans in tears at the time, with many taking to Twitter to praise Princess Anne – who turns 75 tomorrow (Friday, August 15) – for the respect she had shown her late mother.
Anne showed her respect as her mother’s coffin passed by (Credit: BBC)

Moment Princess Anne performed curtsy to Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin

Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96. She passed away at her beloved Balmoral Castle. Her state funeral took place on September 19.

But before that, on September 11, the late queen’s coffin made the journey from Balmoral Castle to Edinburgh.

Her Majesty’s coffin was taken to Edinburgh’s Palace of Holyroodhouse that day.

It remained there overnight before it was moved to St Giles’ Cathedral on September 12. The Scottish public was able to pay their respect to the late monarch there.

The final goodbyes of a daughter to her mother.

Some members of the royal family were present to see Her Majesty’s coffin carried inside the palace.

Amongst the royals present were Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Prince Andrew, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. Anne’s husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, was also present.

As the queen’s coffin passed Princess Anne, she performed a cursty.

Sophie did the same. Edward and Andrew, meanwhile, bowed their heads.

During the heartbreaking moment, Sophie was also seen placing her hand on Anne’s back to comfort her.

Queen Elizabeth II’s loved ones gathered in Scotland after her death (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Royal fans praised Princess Royal over respect gesture

Upon seeing Anne’s show of respect, many royal fans took to Twitter at the time to praise her. Some even confessed that her curtsy to her late mother had left them in tears.

“This brought me to tears, Princess Anne curtsied to Queen Elizabeth, her mother, so much respect,” one royal fan tweeted.

“How fitting that Princess Anne curtsied to her mother’s coffin. Brings tears to my eyes, what love and respect she has shown the world for her mother,” another said.

“My tears welled up when I saw Princess Anne curtsy to her mother’s coffin. The final goodbyes of a daughter to her mother,” a third wrote.

“Princess Anne’s curtsy to her mother’s coffin is the most heartbreaking but appropriate act I have seen across these last days. Broken,” another said.

“Princess Anne’s curtsy to her mum’s casket made me cry,” a fifth tweeted.
Anne was hit hard by her mother’s death, an expert said (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Anne ‘contorted’ by grief

According to one body language expert at the time, the queen’s death hit Princess Anne particularly hard.

The queen’s only daughter reportedly appeared “contorted with grief” when she was seen for the first time after the monarch’s death.

Body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail that Anne seemed the most “poignant” figure as the royal family left Balmoral Church on September 10.

“Princess Anne was possibly the most poignant figure in terms of her body language, with her diminished posture and her facial expression,” she said.

She then said that it “appeared to aim at stoicism”.

However, she came to the conclusion that it was “contorted by sadness” following the death of Her Majesty.

Read more: Prediction made over Princess Anne’s ‘royal residences’ ahead of her 75th birthday