Jeremy Corbyn accused of 'snubbing' the Queen - but was Labour leader following protocol?

 Jeremy Corbyn caused outrage on social media when the Labour leader failed to bow for the Queen before the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday. Corbyn was even seen giving a friend a jaunty wink.

The Prime Minister Theresa May bowed, and this lead some to think the Labour leader had made a disrespectful gaffe.

However, a senior Labour source told the Huffington Post that Jeremy Corbyn was "just following protocol".

 “The correct protocol is that the Speaker and Black Rod bow on behalf of the whole of the House. Jeremy observed that protocol,” they said.

“This is yet another example of the  chaos around Theresa May and her team that they can’t keep her abreast of the appropriate protocol and etiquette.”

Parliamentary officials have confirmed that Jeremy Corbyn did not breach protocol by remaining upright while Theresa May bowed in front of the Queen at the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords.

A Lords' spokesman said the only people required to bow were House of Commons Speaker John Bercow, Commons Clerk David Natzler, senior Lords official Black Rod and the Serjeant at Arms Kamal El-Hajji.

The Labour leader therefore followed protocol, as did Mrs May's most senior minister Damian Green, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford and Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, who all stood still.

Labour adviser Damian McBride waded into the "bow row" on Twitter, posting a video showing then-opposition leader David Cameron remaining erect at 2009's Queen's Speech.

He also posted a video showing Mrs May standing upright while serving as home secretary at the 2012 State Opening.