AS THE Queen’s official representatives on royal tours, Princes William and Harry and their wives Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, have to ensure they give the best impression possible.
That includes getting to grips with the basics of the host country’s language – as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would have done in Pakistan, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Africa.
As well as packing a black outfit just in case the Queen passes and emergency blood supplies, royals have to make sure they’re as prepared for their trip abroad as possible.
Learning greetings – as well as other vocabulary – in the country’s native language is high on the list as they get ready for a string of engagements where they’ll be required to interact with locals.
“The internal palace aids will always be on hand to prepare each royal before an important visit,” explained Myka Meier, an etiquette expert to Reader’s Digest, noting the need to master key greetings in different tongues.
“It is the correct protocol to practice the etiquette of the country or culture you are visiting, in order to show respect, so each royal knows how to make the best first impression.”
Earlier this week, we heard Kate, 37, speak Urdu – the official language of Pakistan – at an event in Lahore.
The Duchess was making a speech at the SOS Childrens Village, a charitable organisation which provides a home for 150 orphaned young girls and boys.
She is also known to be fluent in French – just like William, 37, who also reportedly speaks good Welsh, as well as some Gaelic and Spanish.
Similarly, Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, would have been required to brush up on local dialect ahead of their Africa tour – which saw them cover between them South Africa as well as Botswana, Angola andMalawi.
However, since South Africa for example, has eleven official languages – with English being the fourth most common, after Zulu, Xhosa and Afrikaans – it is likely they had to learn a broad sweep depending on the locations they visited.
Last year, while on the New Zealand royal tour, Harry wowed a crowd by delivering a speech in six languages.
The Duke spoke – using the help of some notes – Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, Niuean, Cook Islands Maori, Maori.
He added: “This is definitely the first time Ive spoken most of those languages, so I apologise if my accent wasnt any good.”
Yesterday, we told you how Kate Middleton wore a plastic tiara to enjoy a tea party with a sick girl during Pakistan Tour.
We also revealed how Prince Harry has opened up about “festering wounds” left by his mother’s death.
And the Duchess of Sussex’s make-up artist reveals how to get her wedding day glow.
