The Royal "We"
4
votes
How would you say "we" in the impersonal sense, as in Queen Victoria's famous "We are not amused"?
Would you use the impersonal "se" ("No esta divertido") or the first person plural ("No estamos divertido")?
Not to be confused with the "royal wee". They don't call it the throne for nothing. 
2555 views
updated Dec 30, 2013
edited by Notedstrangeperson
posted by Notedstrangeperson
1 Answer
3
votes
The Royal we is not impersonal. It is called the Majestic Plural, it comes from Latin, presumably the Roman Emperors used it.
It refers only to the Royal Person, who speaks of herself/himself in the plural.
It's an ancient usage, not to be used by commoners.
updated Dec 30, 2013
edited by annierats
posted by annierats
¡Que les corten la cabeza! ¡ (if used by the commoners) - dennywells, Dec 29, 2013
