What Languages Do The Royals Speak?

[fortimo]

Originally Posted by contessa

How do the royal children communicate with each other?
Like at Princess Victoria's wedding?

I saw a doku about CP Victoria, and there was some scenes about her wedding-preparations. There was a very sweet moment when she explained something to the Princesses Ingrid-Alexandra and Catharina-Amalia in English. So I think they speak also English with eachother.

[fairy tale]

Originally Posted by fortimo

As you a native German, did you understand all, what she said? Because I thought I am pretty good in German, but I didn't understand her every time. But IMO, she spoke very good, it takes time as long as somebody so good speaks, so I think she took a few german-lesson before it. Or she took some weeks or months to learn only this speech. Very impressive.

I understood her really well. There were only some words that I didn't get immediately but in connection with the whole sentence I understood it.
As somebody who doesn't speak the language at all it is really impressive and a beautiful gesture!!

I remember that also Haakon held a speech in German when they were in Germany.
Found it: The Crown Prince and Crown Princess in Germany - YouTube

[Rice]

I saw an interview with Princess Grace on YouTube. She said she spoke to her children in English, Prince Rainier spoke to them in French, and they would speak to each other in French. I saw Prince Albert's from his wedding and he most definitely sounds American when he speaks English. I think Princess Stephanie does as well. Princess Caroline has more of a British accent .

I have seen Princess Mathilde speaking English with a French accent
Queen Paola has an Italian accent (no surprise :)) and King Albert also had a French accent when speaking English.

[cepe]

Someone asked earlier about the Duchess of Cambridge. She should have a working knowledge of Italian as she spent 3 months at the British Institute in Italy, where she had Italian lessons and studied Art History (this was prior to St Andrew's ). One language was compulsory at Marlborough chosen from French, Spanish or German. So again working knowledge, not necessarily fluent

[MidnightSonatta]

I doubt the Duchess of Cambridge has a working knowledge of Italian. 3 months is not enough time to learn a language and not to mention her stay at Italy was such a long time ago that whatever Italian she may have learned she probably forgot about it already.

[cepe]

Originally Posted by MidnightSonatta

I doubt the Duchess of Cambridge has a working knowledge of Italian. 3 months is not enough time to learn a language and not to mention her stay at Italy was such a long time ago that whatever Italian she may have learned she probably forgot about it already.

I didn't say fluent I said working knowledge - she spent half a day every day in italian lessons - that should give her a working knowledge. I am not fluent in French but when I go thereto France each year I can generally understand and converse within a couple of days. She needed to learn as part of her Art History course in Italy.

But hey, if we disagree, we disagree.

[miche]

I learn English within three month. When you are immerse in a culture and language, you can pick it up quickly. I was younger, that help

[carlfraley]

Originally Posted by Juanita

Do you remember where and the channel of the documentary, to see if I can find it?

It was my understanding that HM is fluent in Greek still, both HM & HRH The Princess Irene use it together. HM King JC has stated publicly that he regrets not learning Greek

[fortimo]

Originally Posted by fortimo

I saw a doku about CP Victoria, and there was some scenes about her wedding-preparations. There was a very sweet moment when she explained something to the Princesses Ingrid-Alexandra and Catharina-Amalia in English. So I think they speak also English with eachother.

And here is the video (it is german, by 8'50), there is said, that Princess Ingrid-Alexandra learned english, so she can speak with Catharina-Amalia):

ZDF-Royal: Die kleinen Königinnen kommen (2/3) - YouTube

[BluePink]

Nice thread ! I have read that the Duchess of Cambridge can only speaks English.. Does anyone know is she speak another language?

[Lenora]

Originally Posted by BluePink

Nice thread ! I have read that the Duchess of Cambridge can only speaks English.. Does anyone know is she speak another language?

I think she probably studied French at school and I suppose she has a working knowledge of this and maybe some other languages. Maybe she speaks only English fluently.

[miche]

When she was a baby and toddler she live for a few years in Jordan. Arabic was Catherine first language. I don't think she speak it now (with the lost of practice you can lose fluency or knowledge of a language)

[Prinsessan]

Finally I came across a video of Crown Princess Victoria speaking German more than two words

Prinzessin Victoria von Schweden - Ständchen zum 35. Geburtstag in deutsch- Victoriadagen 2012 - YouTube

The kids are singing a funny version of the "Happy birthday" song, and she replies that she has never heard this before. Her German sounds so good that I am wondering why she didn't make any speeches in German when she came here in 2011!

[Iluvbertie]

Originally Posted by miche

When she was a baby and toddler she live for a few years in Jordan. Arabic was Catherine first language. I don't think she speak it now (with the lost of practice you can lose fluency or knowledge of a language)

I doubt that Arabic was her first language just because she lived there. For that to be the case her parents would have had to be using that language to her all the time as well and I really don't see them doing that.

Living in a country doesn't mean that you learn that language.

Your first language will be the one that your family use around you all the time.

If her parents were using Arabic around her when living there then they would presumably have continued to use that language but as the evidence suggests that she is no longer able to speak the language which suggests again that she wasn't exposed to it all that much and certainly not enough to call it a first language.

[blauerengel]

Originally Posted by Prinsessan

Finally I came across a video of Crown Princess Victoria speaking German more than two words

The kids are singing a funny version of the "Happy birthday" song, and she replies that she has never heard this before. Her German sounds so good that I am wondering why she didn't make any speeches in German when she came here in 2011!

That video is hilarious,she is speaking without accent-wow!She has a talent for languages and certainly her mother tought her a lot.The song is funny too,translated the rhyme would mean "Happy Birthday to you,Happy Birthday to you,marmelade(jam) in the shoes,apricots in the trousers,Happy birthday to you" *lol*

[blauerengel]

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

I doubt that Arabic was her first language just because she lived there. For that to be the case her parents would have had to be using that language to her all the time as well and I really don't see them doing that.

Living in a country doesn't mean that you learn that language.

Your first language will be the one that your family use around you all the time.

If her parents were using Arabic around her when living there then they would presumably have continued to use that language but as the evidence suggests that she is no longer able to speak the language which suggests again that she wasn't exposed to it all that much and certainly not enough to call it a first language.

I think miche wanted to say Arabic was her first foreign language-we say that the language spoken by our family is our mother tongue and than you have a first,second,third...language from another country.

[sarahedwards2]

Princess Anne speaks French; she took it at boarding school and the summer she turned 19.

[USCtrojan]

Originally Posted by chen bao jun

Also, some (I know Americans have this tendency and I believe the French do too) tend to feel that a person cannot really speak their language if they have a thick foreign accent even if they can understand everything the person says and can be understood by them. While others are more forgiving. And a good or even great accent accent actually can little to do with true fluency!

I have to agree that it seems that many Americans might seem to feel that way!

I however am not one of them as I have so much respect for anyone who takes the time to learn a language or even "tests the waters" while attempting to learn another language! It is not easy to do so -English is a hard language (from what friends who speak it as a second language tell me) to learn. I have so much respect for others as I myself struggle to learn languages due to hearing problems... So I am always in awe of those who can speak more than one language, let alone four or five.

[USCtrojan]

Originally Posted by christythedreamer

this is such a lovely thread! is it true that Leonor is learning Chinese?

Yes. There is a recent Hello! Magazine article that mentions this.

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by USCtrojan

I have to agree that it seems that many Americans might seem to feel that way!

Not only Americans. That's pretty universal I'd say.