Princess Anne appears confused as player drops to ground

Princess Anne shook the hand of each player ahead of the sporting event but appeared muddled when Levani Botia sat down after greeting her. The gesture is a sign of respect in Fijian culture as it is customary to sit down and bow your head. A Fijian soldier previously sat down after meeting the Queen during the royal tour of Kendal, Cumbria.But Her Majesty knew exactly what it meant and did not bat an eyelid.Sgt Rusiate Bolavucu, 32, representing the Burma Company, part of the 1st Battalion Duke of Lancaster Regiment, was following an ancient tradition from his South Pacific homeland.He said: “It is a traditional and cultural thing for people from Fiji to do when they meet a head of state. It is a way of showing respect.”The Queen has been to Fiji so she knows about it, and she had asked me where I was from, so she smiled when she saw what I was doing.”READ MORE: King Charles circumvents Sunak after ‘nightmare’ start to reign Princess Anne appeared confused when the Fijan rugby player sat down after shaking her hand (Image: Amazon Prime)In Fijian culture it is thought that good things come through the head and are passed down to the feet. It is important to make sure that one’s head is not above others in the room.Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales enjoyed a “really exciting” game as she joined fans to watch England win their Rugby League World Cup quarter-final.Kate attended the crunch game against Papua New Guinea at Wigan’s DW Stadium on Saturday, her first match since succeeding the Duke of Sussex as patron of the Rugby Football League (RFL).Wearing a red coat over a long-sleeved burgundy top and pleated skirt, the princess was cheered by the crowd of 23,179 supporters as she walked on to the pitch to shake hands with players from both teams before the match kicked off.Kate, with an umbrella to cover her from the rain, clapped during a moment of “non-silence” held to mark the tournament’s Movember Mental Fitness Match Day – with the aim of combating the damaging impact that silence can have upon men’s mental wellbeing.She took a seat in the director’s box to watch the game and was seen smiling and clapping as England got off to a successful start with an early try, going on to win the game 46-6.Meeting the women’s team at half-time, Kate said: “I’ve loved watching the game. It’s really exciting, it’s so fast paced.”It’s been really exciting, the atmosphere as well.”She congratulated the women’s team, who beat Canada at the stadium earlier in the day in their group stage game, and told them she would be watching their progress.DON’T MISSHarry slammed for ‘self-pity’ book title when he has ‘millions’ [VIDEO]Kate and Prince William want ‘more bang for their buck’ [INSIGHT]Prince Harry lost battle to ‘change’ book in clash with ghostwriter [ANALYSIS] The Queen visited Fiji in 1982 (Image: GETTY)England captain Emily Rudge told Kate she had been playing the sport for 20 years, since she was 10.She said: “The game has grown so much for us as women.”The princess said: “It’s amazing to see the women’s game being played at the same time, alongside the men’s game.”She told player Jodie Cunningam: “I’m so in awe of all of you, you’re running day jobs as well as training, as well as family life and things like that, it’s extraordinary. You juggle everything.”