Princess Anne captivated Aachen crowds during the CHIO Equestrian Festival’s opening with a brief speech in German. With over 50 visits to Germany and travel to every continent, it’s no wonder she has honed her language skills. But what about the other members of the royal family? Their global engagements provide ample opportunities to encounter different languages, and it’s always a delight when they can communicate in the native tongue of the countries they visit. During an official visit with husband William in 2017, Princess Diana apologized to then Chancellor Angela Merkel for not speaking German. It is believed that King Charles, Meghan Markle, Princess Anne, and Prince William can speak French, following the late Queen Elizabeth II’s fluency in the language. Let’s take a closer look at the royals who have mastered additional languages, including the rumors of Prince William teaching himself Swahili. As Princess Anne demonstrated her German-speaking skills in Aachen, we delve into the multilingual abilities of the royal family.
King Charles, the head of state and Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest child, is known for his command of four languages. Besides English, he is fluent in Welsh, French, and German. Earlier this year, he impressively addressed the Bundestag in Berlin, delivering most of his speech in German. He expressed his honor and hope to strengthen the friendship between the two countries while paying tribute to his late mother. MPs and officials warmly applauded his remarkable speech, leaving many curious about his proficiency in other languages. His knowledge of Welsh dates back to his university days in 1969 when he studied at the University of Wales in Aberystwyth. He undertook a rigorous nine-week course on Welsh language history, taught by Dr. Tedi Millward, a renowned Welsh nationalist who also gave lectures in Welsh at the university.
Queen Camilla has delivered speeches in French during her travels worldwide. In 2013, she spoke French during a visit to the EMMAUS Bougival charity in Paris, marking her first solo engagement overseas. Although she admitted feeling rusty after not speaking French publicly for half a century, she successfully conversed with the crowd. As a teenager in the 1960s, Camilla studied French and French Literature at the Institut Britannique in Paris. During another visit, she conversed in both French and English with pupils at a school in Canada.
Prince William surprised Erick Venant, a Tanzanian man, by confidently speaking Swahili during a tea event at Kensington Palace. While it is rumored that he taught himself Swahili, possibly during his time at university, he is not considered completely fluent. He has also showcased his language skills in Spanish during a Q&A on Instagram, where he stated that he could speak it to some extent. Additionally, he is believed to be proficient in French, Welsh, and Gaelic. William’s gap year in Chile on the Raleigh International scheme likely helped improve his Spanish.
Kate, the Princess of Wales, is fluent only in English. However, during a memorial service for victims of a helicopter crash, she engaged with an Italian woman, playfully asking how to say “ciao” before admitting her language skills were subpar. In preparation for a visit to Quebec, she and William studied French diligently. They familiarized themselves with the places they would visit and the people and organizations they would meet.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are reportedly learning Spanish thanks to their nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, a Spanish native. Kate shared that George, at three years old, could count to ten in Spanish. At the prestigious Lambrook School in Bracknell, French is part of the curriculum, and some students have the option to study Greek and Latin. Kate hopes her children will surpass her language abilities.
As for Meghan Markle, her linguistic abilities are not mentioned in the given content.
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