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This article is about the contitutional term, for the more general ritual of greeting and respect see Hand-kissing The term to Kiss Hands is a Constitutional term used in the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth Realm s to refer to the formal installation of British governmental office-holders to their office. In the past, it referred to the requirement that the office-holder ''actually'' Kiss the hands of the Sovereign as a symbol of his '' Fealty '' and ''loyalty'' to the Sovereign, that fealty and loyalty being a requirement to serve in the King's or Queen's government. In modern times, office holders are not required to actually physically kiss the hands of the sovereign (though some, to the current Queen Elizabeth II 's embarrassment, have unexpectedly done so). Simply meeting with the Queen is taken to validate the appointment, with this meeting being described as "kissing hands". The invitation issued to a party leader to form a government is sometimes still described as "an invitation to Kiss Hands". |
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