The Languages Royals Speak To Each Other

[LaChicaMadrilena]

Originally Posted by crisiñaki

In the Spanish Royal Family Elena and Cristina usually talk amongst themselves in Greek when they are at the palace or don't want to be overheard, but with Felipe and their mother, the language of choice is English.

Wow, I didn't know Elena and Cristina speak Greek well enough to communicate between each other. It's their mother's native language, of course, but I would guess they would choose Spanish or English like Sofia and Felipe. I mean, talking to your siblings is so natural that you don't even think or consider what language you are speaking at the moment, you just say what you want.
And I always found quite weird the fact that Sofia talks to their children in English. Felipe was always thought as the heir to the SPANISH throne, and both Infantas are important figures in SPAIN as well. But it can be the result of the fact that both languages, English and Spanish alike, were foreign for the Princess and then for the Queen, so she treated them in the same way.

[Juanita]

Originally Posted by crisiñaki

In the Spanish Royal Family Elena and Cristina usually talk amongst themselves in Greek when they are at the palace or don't want to be overheard, but with Felipe and their mother, the language of choice is English.

I think that the Infantas don't speak Greek! I read some online biographies some them and they said that they don't speak Greek (don't ask me what were the biographies, because i don't remember).

Queen Sofia and her sister, Princess Irene usually speak Greek between them!

[kittencrews]

The Hannovers/ Casiraghi speak many amongst themselves.. Caroline and Ernst speak English to one another; Ernst and Alexandra speak English; Alexandra and her nanny speak German; Caroline speak French to all 4 of her children and Charlotte, Andrea, and Pierre speak English to Ernst.

I read that Caroline, Albert, and Stephanie all spoke English with their mother and French with their father... I imagine they switch between the two with whatever mood they are in.

[Saturn]

Originally Posted by ...JuAnItA...

I think that the Infantas don't speak Greek! I read some online biographies some them and they said that they don't speak Greek (don't ask me what were the biographies, because i don't remember).

Queen Sofia and her sister, Princess Irene usually speak Greek between them!

Yes, I agree with you, I also read that the infantas didn't speak greek though they were able to understand a little.
Queen Sofia said that, as a rule, she spoke greek with her sister as a way to keep the language up.
King JC said that Queen Sofia spoke english with her children but he always spoke spanish with them.

[hofburg]

English, that's a given.

[crisiñaki]

Originally Posted by Saturn

Yes, I agree with you, I also read that the infantas didn't speak greek though they were able to understand a little.
Queen Sofia said that, as a rule, she spoke greek with her sister as a way to keep the language.
King JC said that Queen Sofia spoke english with her children but he always spoke spanish with them.

About Cristina:
http://www.hola.com/casasreales/espa...s/momento1.htm
and I'm pretty sure I've seen an article that tells about Elena and Cristina speaking Greek to both Pavlos and Alexia, but I'm still searching for it, as soon as I found it, I'll post the link here

[norwegianne]

Originally Posted by crisiñaki

In the autobiography of Prince Henrik of Denmark he says that when his kids were little he pretended not to understand Danish so they have to speak French to him and I believe that tradition is still strong in their household.

Pretended to? It might have worked out better for his own Danish abilities if Margrethe and their sons had spoken Danish with him at home.

But I've read (someone mentioned it in Princess Alexandra's thread) that Joachim continues the tradition, and that he speaks French with his sons, as Henrik does. Alexandra on the other hand, speaks Danish with Felix and Nikolai.

[crisiñaki]

Originally Posted by crisiñaki

About Cristina:
http://www.hola.com/casasreales/espa...s/momento1.htm
and I'm pretty sure I've seen an article that tells about Elena and Cristina speaking Greek to both Pavlos and Alexia, but I'm still searching for it, as soon as I found it, I'll post the link here

For those who don't speak spanish, in the Hola! article it says that Cristina studied at the Hellenic College in London (school that belongs to her uncle and aunt) to perfect english, french and greek in 1983 before she started University.

[RoyalProtocol]

I have heard Queen Margrethe, Prince Henrik, Prince Frederik, Prince Joachim, King Harald, Queen Sonja,King Carl Gustav, Queen Silvia, King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia, King Abdullah, Queen Raina, Queen Noor, King Albert, King Constantine, Queen Anne-Marie, King Michael and Queen Ann all speak wonderful English so I would assume if a common Language is required it is most probably English.

[Saturn]

Originally Posted by crisiñaki

For those who don't speak spanish, in the Hola! article it says that Cristina studied at the Hellenic College in London (school that belongs to her uncle and aunt) to perfect english, french and greek in 1983 before she started University.

Yes, that's true, in 1983 Cristina studied for 8 months at the Hellenic College in London and improved her english, french and greek, but that doesn't mean she speaks fluent greek.
When she decided to live in Barcelona she said she would learn catalan and than that would'n be difficult as she spoke spanish, english and french, and had a certain level of german and greek.

[iannis]

So, even if the Infantas are able to speak greek to each other, how come they speak english with their mother, who's Greek and I suppose was the one who suggested they learnt greek?

[politikgirl]

Wow, this is really interesting stuff. And what Prince Henrik of Denmark did with his children reminds me much of what my parents did with me as a child. We're Chinese-Canadians from Hong Kong who now live in Toronto (Canada) and as a child, my parents would pretend not to know English at home in order to force me to speak in Cantonese at home since I would speak English all day at school.

[Princess_Beatrix]

Do Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik really speak Frensh with each other?
Or do they use to speak Danish now?

And what about Beatrix and Claus? Which language did they use when they got to know eah other? German and English?

[Maxie]

Originally Posted by Princess_Beatrix

And what about Beatrix and Claus? Which language did they use when they got to know eah other? German and English?

I suppose they spoke German as Queen Beatrix's father was German too. But I'm not sure of it. Interesting question. Have to do some research on that one! :)

[Princess_Beatrix]

Originally Posted by Maxie

I suppose they spoke German as Queen Beatrix's father was German too. But I'm not sure of it. Interesting question. Have to do some research on that one! :)

I just had a look on the Engagement- Video from 1966 again. The Interviewer asked Claus in which language he asked Beatrix to marrie him; and they answered: " partly in German and partly in english!"
That sounds so cute

[Maxie]

That's so great! I have never seen the engagement video, but I'm quite sure I'll find it somewhere on the net (I saw Irene's and Magriet's, so I suppose Beatrix's is there too)! :)

[betina]

Originally Posted by Princess_Beatrix

Do Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik really speak Frensh with each other?
Or do they use to speak Danish now?

And what about Beatrix and Claus? Which language did they use when they got to know eah other? German and English?

Yes they speak French to each other

[Princess_Beatrix]

Originally Posted by Maxie

That's so great! I have never seen the engagement video, but I'm quite sure I'll find it somewhere on the net (I saw Irene's and Magriet's, so I suppose Beatrix's is there too)! :)

here's a link. Enjoy it
http://geschiedenis.vpro.nl/afleveringen/3447367/ (there are 2 different versions. dutch and english)

[Maxie]

Originally Posted by Princess_Beatrix

here's a link. Enjoy it
http://geschiedenis.vpro.nl/afleveringen/3447367/ (there are 2 different versions. dutch and english)

Thank you so much! I will bookmark it immediately!

[Princess_Beatrix]

You are welcome