What Languages Do The Royals Speak?

[Roshanah]

COUNTESS, there is no need to take that tone. I'm fully aware of her heritage but those were her words not mine. Furthermore I take offense at your insinuation, that I would fabricate such a thing.

I understand your point, you deem Prince Phillip not to be Greek because of his genetics, that said he was given (upon birth) Greek (and Danish) royal titles, Greek Citizenship and was baptized into Greek orthodoxy. Not only that but in the East if a person was born in one country and their parents are ethnically from another country the individual would be (in certain cases) referred to as the Nationality their country of birth with xyz ancestry.

There is one exception and that is within the Royal Court, the aforementioned would still apply but would not be mentioned except for Genealogical purposes.

Taking that same perspective HRH Prince Hamzah bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, refers to himself as Jordanian. However if one desires to be point accurate the he is: Half Jordanian from his Paternal side and a combination of Lebanese, Syrian, Swedish, Irish and English ancestry from his Maternal side.

If one really wants to be even more accurate you could say he's 3/4 Levanti and 1/4 European and Caucasian-American. Further disputes and or accuracy debates would then become somewhat irksome.

On account of this technicality should we consider him to be any less Jordanian? of course not. One wouldn't dare to call him anything else in public nor when speaking with him, out of sheer tact.

Would one also consider the Jordanian Royal family any less Jordanian in view of their Saudi Arabian (Al-Hijaz ) Origins? or for the fact that Jordan came to be after Palestine was partitioned and the majority of its territory subsequently called Trans-Jordan? of course not.

Genetics is one thing, but the way in which one perceives and subsequently interprets one's heritage (genetic or no) is quite another.

Originally Posted by COUNTESS

She is no more half Greek than the man in the moon. I doubt she ever said that. Her father's father, was Danish and German, his mother was English and German. They were part of the foreign entitiy that were elected? to the Greek throne. That makes them as Greek as standing in a garage makes you a car.

[Roshanah]

I reiterate the Languages spoken by the Assantehene are: Ga, French, English and other ancient Saharan variants within the Akan branch.

The following is a response to a post with incorrect information as regards The Republic of Ghana and the circumstances surrounding our road to independence and unfortunate period of the Coup D'Etat.

As was previously stated I am far more acquainted with the history and workings of my country than yourself Aidan. One does not need a 'history lesson' nor a translation of one's regions Native languages from a person whom blatantly disrespects the knowledge of a Native, in favor of Wikipedia. In addition you compounded the felony by insulting a member of the Ghanaian Royal Family (Myself) by trying to correct her intimate knowledge of her own people twice.

Ghana became a republic in April 6th 1957 but refrained from formally using the title The Republic of Ghana due to legal formalities (1960 Structural and Development Post-Colonial accords and subsequent negotiations). The aforementioned accords, were a condition for Ghana gaining its independence. It is a fact that the Ghanaian Anniversary of Independence is held April 6th every year and in 2007 Ghana Celebrated its 50th (Golden) Anniversary of Independence.

If you were as familiar with Ghanaian history as you claim then you have been able to state which of the our many Saharan languages the name Osagyefo is derived from. You might even have given detailed accounts of the vast history of our Ancient Ghanaian Empire (aka Ouagadougou), which paved the way for Present day Ghana. Moreover that said your posts suggested otherwise therefore I shall enlighten you, Osegyefo is from the ancient Akan branch of Western Saharan (not the country) linguistic families. There are innumerate sub-variants such as Chree (and not Twi as is incorrectly quoted external to Africa) Ga, Brong etc.

It appears that you also neglected to mention that Ghanaian titles are given, subject to the approval of the the Assantehene (King of the Assante Kingdom) and or one of the regional Ohene (plural of Hene (King)). In addition Ghanaian presidents aren't just elected, before they can become candidates they're Genealology and Caste are researched in order to determine suitability for the role.

All Ghanaian Presidents to date have been of Assante Royal descent. Nkrumah was overthrown by a Coup D'Etat, lead by Former President Jerry Rawlings. This was backed by former US intervention policy within the region. Nkruma was overthrown because he promoted Pan-Africanism and became a leader of international stature, advocating African economic and Political unity and non-alignment internationally. The US cited these policies as a direct threat to its interests within the continent, which reaped the wrath of Washington and was overthrown in a CIA coup in 1966. At one time Ghana was under populated because of the mass exodus during the 70 - 80's into Ivory Coast and other African and non-African States. The result of the aforementioned Coup D'Etat severely strained Ivorian-Ghanaian relations, until recently due to economic and cultural reconciliation.

Countless were affected.

Princess Iman-Roshanah bint Al-Orhan of the House of Osei of The Assante Kingdom of Ghana

Originally Posted by Royalist0007

Ghana actually became a republic in 1960,not 1957.When Ghana became independent in 1957,it was as a Dominion of the British Commonwealth with the Queen as head of state.Kwame Nkrumah began his rise to power when Ghana was still called the Colony of the Gold Coast.He later called himself 'Osagyefo',which means 'Redeemer' in one of the Ghanaian languages.He offended the native monarchs by trying to claim some of their titles for himself.Perhaps that is one reason why Nkrumah was overthrown in 1966.

Here's an article about Kwame Nkrumah; Kwame Nkrumah - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia .

Aidan.

[Dralcoffin]

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand speaks Thai of course, French, German, English and Sanskrit. He spent twelve years before his accession in Switzerland, and has translated English works to Thai.

His daughter, Princess Sirindhorn, speaks Thai, English, French, and Chinese.

For historical monarchs, Franz Joseph of the Austro-Hungarian Empire spoke native German, fluent Hungarian (a very difficult language), Czech, and a manageable Italian. (He might have known others; those are the ones I recall from Twilight of the Habsburgs.)

[PrincessAurora]

I am still new to this message board (and I hope sharing a youtube link is allowed); please see this link to Queen Margrethe speaking beautiful English with a British accent. Her vocabulary is flawless and she speaks so eloquently. With vidos such as these, Queen Margrethe - and Queen Beatrix and CP Victoria - are quickly becoming my favorite royal ladies!

YouTube - From her residence in south-west, Queen of Denmark talks wit

[4Pam]

Does Henrik not speak English?

[Lumutqueen]

I thought he did. Danish, French and English.

[irishthanhy]

I imagine he was answering a question asked in French, hence his French response.

[Lighthouse]

Originally Posted by PrincessAurora

please see this link to Queen Margrethe speaking beautiful English with a British accent. Her vocabulary is flawless and she speaks so eloquently. With vidos such as these, Queen Margrethe - and Queen Beatrix and CP Victoria - are quickly becoming my favorite royal ladies!

Also, CP Victoria speaks excellent fluent English probably from her time in America.

[muriel]

Watching pictires of the recent wedding in Sweden, I was wondering waht languages must the Queen of Spain and the Netherlands be conversing with each other, or the CPrincesses of Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark.

[anniks]

Originally Posted by muriel

Watching pictires of the recent wedding in Sweden, I was wondering waht languages must the Queen of Spain and the Netherlands be conversing with each other, or the CPrincesses of Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark.

My guess for the two Queens is German or English.
Crownprincesses of spain and the Netherlands: spanish.

[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by muriel

Watching pictires of the recent wedding in Sweden, I was wondering waht languages must the Queen of Spain and the Netherlands be conversing with each other, or the CPrincesses of Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark.

English would be my first thought.

[CrownPrincess5]

I once heard Victoria, Prince of Orange, Haakon and another royal (I can't remember who) talking to each other. I could only make out a few words, because it was mumbled, but they were indeed talking to each other in English. Which is not surprising, English is usually the common ground language for almost everyone.

[muriel]

Originally Posted by anniks

My guess for the two Queens is German or English.
Crownprincesses of spain and the Netherlands: spanish.

I agree, it is probably English or German for the Queens and Spanish for the CPs

[skatefan]

If anyone is interested: QEII speaking French during a visit to Canada in 1957. She has a slight accent, but I was pretty impressed.

http://ms.radio-canada.ca/archives_n...e_19571016.wmv

[amedea]

Originally Posted by skatefan

If anyone is interested: QEII speaking French during a visit to Canada in 1957. She has a slight accent, but I was pretty impressed.

http://ms.radio-canada.ca/archives_n...e_19571016.wmv

Wow very good indeed!

[Her_Majesty]

Haakon reading a speech in German (starting around 0:50): (lovely accent )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9OsU...layer_embedded

[Esmerelda]

Originally Posted by Her_Majesty

Haakon reading a speech in German (starting around 0:50): (lovely accent )

One of the commenters on YouTube thinks he needs more practice! I think King Harald and his sisters speak Swedish as their mother was a Princess of Sweden.

[Sternchen]

IMO he speaks just fine for someone who most propably doesn't have a lot of opportunity to practise :)

[Maura724]

Originally Posted by Esmerelda

I think King Harald and his sisters speak Swedish as their mother was a Princess of Sweden.

I have read that the sisters both speak Swedish, because their mother spoke only Swedish to them when they were little - her Norwegian wasn't very good yet, and she didn't want to mess them up by teaching them the language incorrectly. However, by the time Harald arrived, she was speaking Norwegian, so he didn't learn Swedish from his mother. He can't really speak it very fluently now - he just speaks sort of a "Scandinav-ish" combination when he's in Sweden, from what I've heard.

[lyndaW]

What languages (if any) do William & Harry speak ?? Zara & her brother?? Duke of York and his daughters?? Edward & Sophie ??