Becoming part of a new family after marrying your spouse can be daunting for anyone, but likely not as nerve-racking as joining the ranks of the royal family. Kate Middleton learned that when she became the Duchess of Cambridge after marrying Prince William back in 2011.
On top of all the protocols, rituals, and rules that go along with the lavish ceremony, she also had to quickly pick up on the proper vocabulary for her new lofty title. Kate Fox, social anthropologist and author, revealed just how tricky it can be to learn the correct terminology in her book, Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behavior.
I can’t imagine being told I couldn’t say something as simple as “toilet” or “patio,” but I guess it’s a small price to pay for becoming royalty! And you can’t deny that the pet names the royal family sticks to for their parents are pretty darn adorable.
Did you realize there were this many words that the royal family members shouldn’t be saying?
Let us know in the comments which one shocked you the most, and be sure to Liked Video with your friends!
1. «Pardon»
Although this sounds like the fancier option for asking someone to repeat themselves when you’ve missed something they’ve said, the author of Watching the English explains that its French origins make it non-royal friendly.
Instead, Kate would be expected to say, “Sorry,” “What,” or combine the two for “Sorry, what?”
2. «Mum/Dad»
The royal family apparently never loses affection for parents, always referring to them as “Mummy” and “Daddy” even well into adulthood.
3. «Posh»
If you ever hear Kate calling someone “posh,” it’s only in a tongue-and-cheek joking way. When describing someone who’s super classy and upperclass, she would say “smart.”
4. «Toilet»
Again, the French origins of this word make it a no-no, so they say “loo” or “lavatory” instead. However, while Kate was still just dating William, there were rumors of her mother making the grave mistake of saying the banned word around the Queen.
5. «Perfume»
If Kate splashes herself with a fragrance, she refers to it as a “scent,” again likely due to the French origins of the term.
6. «Portions»
According to the author, whether dining at a fancy banquet like the one above or sitting at home with just William, George, and Charlotte, Kate would ask for an extra “helping” if she was still feeling peckish.
7.»Tea»
In England, a middle class family might sit down for “tea,” meaning an afternoon snack or a full meal like what we would call dinner.
The royal family, however, only uses the term to refer to the hot beverage, and “dinners” are strictly events that require fancy invitations. The book explains that the evening meal is usually called “supper.”
8. «Lounge»
We would call this a living room, but Kate enjoys relaxing in her family’s “drawing room” or “sitting room,” instead.
9. «Patio»
According to Watching the English, Princess Beatrice, shown above, may try to find Kate on the “terrace” at this garden party rather than the “patio.”
10. «Sweet»
If the Duchess was craving a confection after dinner, she would ask for “pudding” instead of a “sweet” or “dessert.”
Did we miss any strange vocabulary restrictions you’ve heard from the royal family? Let us know below and be sure to Liked Video with your friends!
