16 Words the Royal Family Never Uses

Your average Brit calls their parents "mum" and "dad." But like any self-respecting royal, Prince Charles referred to the Queen as "Mummy" during her Diamond Jubilee celebration. That makes Prince Philip "Daddy," of course.

If learning all of these subtleties makes you feel "posh," stop right there. "The correct upper-class word is 'smart,'" Fox says. "In upper-middle and upper-class circles, 'posh' can only be used ironically, in a jokey tone, to show that you know it's a low-class word." Righttt, we totally knew that.

Tea time has been a British tradition for centuries, but the royals just call it supper. For the queen and co., tea is just the hot beverage they sip (but never slurp.)

There’s no such thing as a casual meal at Buckingham Palace. The royals only use the term “dinner” to refer to an event with formal invitations. The meal we Americans call dinner is just supper across the pond.

The British classes have different words for social gatherings: Lower classes attend a “do," the middle class attends a “function," but the royal family lean toward the more common American term known as a “party.”

Queen Elizabeth can spend a lazy day on the "sofa," but HRH wouldn't be caught dead on a "settee" or "couch."

As for rooms with a sofa, Buckingham Palace likely includes "drawing rooms" and "sitting rooms," but not "lounges," "dens" or comfy, ol' "living rooms."

If Prince George and Princess Charlotte want to go outside, their parents would take them to the "terrace," not a "patio."

It might seem proper to ask for a refreshment when you’re feeling peckish or thirsty, but the royals put it simply as “food and drink.”

No matter what you might be craving to get your sugar fix, dessert in the Palace is known simply as "pudding."

Anyone hoping to score a second plate of food at a banquet with the royal family should know how to ask for it. The proper way to ask for another portion is to call it a "helping."

Pleasantries are for commoners. The royal family ends their conversations just saying "goodbye." It's not very regal to sprinkle on additional phrases like "nice seeing you" or something similar.

Clinking glasses with a simple “cheers” is not the way it’s done at a royal party. Formal toasts are a must.

When it's time to go, head to the "lavatory," advises royal etiquette expert Myka Meier. The Duchess would never excuse herself to the "toilet," "bathroom" or even "ladies."

Diana, Princess of Wales, loved to wear a signature "scent" (Quelques Fleurs, to be exact) but she didn't dab on "perfume."

If Prince William missed what you said, he'd interject with a "what?" Words such as "sorry" and "pardon" don't see much use among the upper class, no matter how polite they sound.