There are certain very commonly used words you'll never hear a member of the royal family say.
From avoiding specific foods to following strict dress codes, being a royal means adhering to a set of carefully curated etiquette rules in public life. But even when he's in the comfort of his own home, there's one word King Charles will not be caught saying – and it's one that most people use in everyday life.
Social anthropologist Kate Fox, author of Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour and who has studied the linguistic quirks of the upper classes, revealed to HELLO! that the word 'toilet' is not in the royal vocabulary. Instead, 'lavatory' or 'loo' are the preferred terms.
Kate explained that the term 'toilet' was historically not used by the royals because it has French origins. The word comes from the French word "toilette", which used to refer to a room for dressing and getting ready.
© Getty ImagesOther words the royals have banned
According to Kate, the royals do not say 'tea' when referring to their evening meal, instead using 'dinner' or 'supper'.
You also won't hear the royals speaking about the lounge room in their home. Buckingham Palace has a grand total of 775 rooms, but rather than a 'lounge', the royals and their guests will find a 'sitting room' or a 'drawing room' to unwind in.
© Getty ImagesKate tells HELLO! the royals would refer to something as "smart" rather than "posh". The social anthropologist explained that the royal family would only use the latetr word "ironically, in a jokey tone, to show that you know it's a low-class word".
Charles' strict home rules
When his mother Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022, Charles ascended the throne and inherited royal residences such as Buckingham Palace and Sandringham Estate. It's the latter country home in Norfolk where Charles typically retreats to for his winter break and where he spends Christmas annually.
One rule on the estate is that there is a permanent no-fly zone over a large portion of the 60-acre estate, which was extended when Charles' disgraced brother Andrew was forced to relocate to the property earlier this year. However, Charles' son Prince Harry once broke this rule in 2007 when he was training as a Forward Air Controller (FAC).
© Getty ImagesBarbecues are also banned in public areas on the estate as they present potential fire hazards. It's also been reported that the late Queen introduced a "no cats policy" at Sandringham to protect the local wildlife in the 20,000-acre surroundings.
Meanwhile, at Buckingham Palace, guests are not allowed to take photos or film inside the palace walls, and are also forbidden from eating and drinking.
