Editing Royal we (section)

== Western usage ==
The royal ''we'' is commonly employed by a person of high office, such as a monarch or other type of [[sovereign]]. It is also used in certain formal contexts by [[bishop]]s and university [[Rector (academia)|rectors]]. [[William Longchamp]] is credited with its introduction to England in the late 12th century, following the practice of the [[Chancery of Apostolic Briefs]].<ref>{{cite ODNB |title=Longchamp, William de (''d''. 1197) |url= http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/16980 |last=Turner |first=Ralph V. |date=May 2007 |doi= 10.1093/ref:odnb/16980 |url-access=subscription |access-date=12 January 2011}}</ref>

In the public situations in which it is used, the monarch or other dignitary is typically speaking not only in their own personal capacity but also in an official capacity as leader of a nation or institution. In the grammar of several languages, plural forms tend to be perceived as deferential and more polite than singular forms.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

In diplomatic letters, such as [[Letter of credence|letters of credence]], it is customary for monarchs to use the singular first-person (''[[I (pronoun)|I]]'', ''me'', ''my'') when writing to other monarchs, while the majestic plural is used in royal letters to a president of a republic.<ref name="satow1932">{{cite book|last1=Satow|first1=Ernest Mason|title=A Guide to Diplomatic Practice|url=https://archive.org/details/guidetodiplomati00satouoft|date=1932|publisher=Longmans|location=London|page=[https://archive.org/details/guidetodiplomati00satouoft/page/37 37]|quote=In these letters the plural "We" and "Our" are employed instead of "I" and "My," and the letters terminate thus: "Your Good Friend." This form is used mainly for Royal letters to Presidents of Republics.}}</ref>

In [[Commonwealth realms]], the sovereign discharges their [[Commission (document)#Examples of military and naval commissions|commissions to ranked military officers]] in the capacity of ''we''.  Many official documents published in the name of the monarch are also presented with royal ''we'', such as [[letters patent]], [[proclamation|proclamations]], etc.

Popes have historically used the ''we'' as part of their formal speech, for example as used in {{lang|fr|[[Notre charge apostolique]]}}, {{lang|de|[[Mit brennender Sorge]]}}, and {{lang|it|[[Non abbiamo bisogno]]}}.  
Since [[Pope John Paul I]], however, the royal ''we'' has been dropped by popes in public speech, although formal documents may have retained it.  Recent important papal documents still use the majestic plural in the original Latin but are given with the singular ''I'' in their official English translations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/ |title=Ioannes Paulus PP. II: Karol Wojtyla: 16.X.1978 - 2.IV.2005 |publisher=The Vatican |access-date=28 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430185550/https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/ |archive-date=30 April 2011}}</ref>{{full|date=November 2012}}

In 1989, [[Margaret Thatcher]], then [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]], was met with disdain by some in the press for using the royal ''we'' when announcing to reporters that she had become a grandmother in her "[[We have become a grandmother]]" statement.<ref>''The Phrase Finder''. [http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/401700.html "We are a grandmother"].</ref>