2007-02-25 09:45:03 · 5 answers · asked by Reshmi P 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Royalty
That is a habit or custom of the English royalty (maybe other realms as well) when the subject is themselves. Because the English Crown is deemed to belong to the people, they have used "we" to indicate "all of England". I know you've heard about the Queen saying "We are not amused" but she's really saying "I am not amused".
Hence the term "Royal we".
2007-02-25 09:57:41 · answer #1 · answered by shaboom2k 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Queen never says "I", becasue she represents not just herself, but the role and the country.
I also use it at work, to mean "you", as in "We must get this report done. That's the "Royal we" of course, gents"
2007-02-25 17:50:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has to de with the divine right of rulership. A monarch is considered to be two seperate people. One, the person who is, Two, gods chosen ruler on earth, and as such represents all the people.
2007-02-25 17:54:47 · answer #3 · answered by Mitch P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may have heard the quote attributed to Queen Victoria;
"We are not amused."
The theory is that the King or Queen is two persons: One is the basic human being, in the case of Henry VIII, Henry Tudor, and the other is the King, the head of government.
Since the King speaks of himself as two people, he uses the plural pronoun "We," as
"We are Henry VIII, We are."
2007-02-25 17:52:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It can also be applied to couples, when they are enmeshed to the point of referring to the two of them rather than just themselves. Example: "Jane, would you like some dip?" "Thanks, we love dip."
2007-02-25 21:33:28 · answer #5 · answered by eschampion 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋