It’s no secret that members of the royal family must adhere to rules and regulations when they are out in public. And there are also some words that you will never hear them say…
Meeting a member of the British royal family is a daunting prospect to most of us. With so many protocols in place, and etiquette key, it can be hard to get it right.
And, as it turns out, there are some words that are best avoided if you’re speaking to the likes of King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William or Princess Kate. Social anthropologist Kate Fox, author of Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour, previously delved into the linguistic quirks of the upper classes, and identified a list of verbal do’s and don’ts when speaking to a royal.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the words that members of the monarchy never use…
‘Lounge’
Royal residences such as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle have a huge number of rooms – but you won’t find a single ‘lounge’. Instead, the family will relax in a ‘sitting room’ or a ‘drawing room’. It’s also worth noting that ‘sofa’ is apparently the appropriate term for a ‘settee’ or a ‘couch’.
‘Tea’
Evening meals are referred to as ‘dinner’ or ‘supper’ and never ‘tea’.
‘Pardon’
We always thought that ‘pardon’ was the politest response if we’d misheard someone. Not so for the royals. Instead they will simply say ‘sorry?’ or ‘what?’ if they wish the speaker to repeat themselves.
‘Toilet’
The word ‘toilet’ is also never used. Instead, ‘lavatory’ or ‘loo’ are the preferred terms. According to Kate, historically the royals have avoided using ‘toilet’ because of its French origins.
‘Posh’
While it is a term often used to describe the upper classes, royals themselves would never say ‘posh’. Instead, they would use the word ‘smart’. According to Kate, ‘posh’ would only ever be used “ironically, in a jokey tone, to show that you know it’s a low-class word”.
‘Perfume’
Female members of the royal household, including Queen Camilla and Princess Kate, never wear perfume. Instead they will spritz on their favourite ‘scent’.
‘Mum and Dad’
Different people have different names for their parents as they’re growing up, but for the most part they become ‘mum and dad’ as we get older. Not so in the royal family. King Charles famously referred to the late Queen as ‘mummy’, while William sweetly refers to his father as ‘Pa’.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis call their dad William ‘Papa’. And Princess Charlotte has been heard referring to her mother as “mummy”.
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