How Many Languages Does Queen Elizabeth Actually Speak?
When you're a member of the royal family in the U.K., you're expected to know certain things. Etiquette is a biggie. So is the history of the Commonwealth that Queen Elizabeth II and her family oversee. They have a dress code. Two heirs cannot fly together on the same flight. (In fact, since Prince George is third in line to the throne, once he turns 12, he will have to fly separately from his father, Prince William, per Pure Wow.)
Other requirements of royals include: when Queen Elizabeth II is done eating, everyone at the table is. And, perhaps strangest of all the royal customs, is the one that says at least six ravens must live at the Tower of London or the monarchy will fail. Currently, there are seven ravens at the Tower, per Historic Royal Palaces.
Another royal requirement is that they speak a language other than English. Prince Charles and Prince William, for instance, speak five languages each, per Showbiz Cheat Sheet. The late Prince Philip spoke English, French, and German. Prince George, 7, Princess Charlotte, 5, and, presumably, Prince Louis, 3, are already learning a second language from their native Spanish-speaking nanny, according to the outlet.
So, how many languages does the queen speak?
Queen Elizabeth II speaks one other language besides English
Clearly, Queen Elizabeth II is fluent in English. She was born and raised in England and English is the country's official language. Fun fact: Her posh accent is called "The Queen's English." If a king was on the throne, it would be called "The King's English," per Showbiz Cheat Sheet.
However, unlike other royal family members who are proficient in several foreign languages, the queen only speaks French in addition to English. She learned the language as a young girl from her governess, according to the outlet. When Her Royal Highness visits France, she speaks French. In 2014, she gave a speech in fluent French at a state banquet.
French language expert Camille Chevalier-Karfis told The Local that the queen's French skills were "excellent."
"Her reading skills were excellent — both pronunciation and rhythm were very good, but you could feel she was quite tense. I was impressed by the quality of her French (yet, I bet she could read a speech in Chinese if need be...) No stuttering pour la reine (for the queen)."
Interestingly enough, Reel Rundown reports that the queen's knowledge of French "comes in handy because Queen Elizabeth's menus are always written in French." The site also notes that Queen Elizabeth knows "some German words as well as some Italian, Spanish, and Irish words."