Word Power: Test Your Knowledge of Royal Terms
We may not all be whizzes like Elizabeth I—in addition to ruling England for 44 years, the queen spoke six languages. But take on this quiz and you shall have new words at your command.
Royal Term #1: Pomp
A: Display of splendour
B: Tall furry hat
C: Royal fire brigade
Answer: A—Display of splendour
As in, “Spain’s King Felipe VI was sworn in at Parliament with minimal pomp and ceremony.”
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Royal Term #2: Interregnum
A: Interview with a head of state
B: Burial ceremony
C: Period between rulers
Answer: C—Period between rulers
As in, “After the king died, a brief interregnum took place while his sons jostled for power.”
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Royal Term #3: Clarence
A: Prohibition of poaching
B: House of Windsor china pattern
C: Closed, four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage
Answer: C—Closed, four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage
As in, “Tourists admired the clarences in the royal stables.”
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Royal Term #4: Regent
A: Palace caretaker
B: Scarlet robe
C: Person standing in for an underage, incapacitated or absent monarch
Answer: C—Person standing in for an underage, incapacitated or absent monarch
As in, “King Mswati III’s mother was regent of Swaziland until he turned 18.”
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Royal Term #5: Wonsam
A: Ceremonial overcoat of Korea’s female royalty and aristocracy
B: Marsupial on a coat of arms
C: Charming
Answer: A—Ceremonial overcoat of Korea’s female royalty and aristocracy
As in, “The wonsam is associated with the Choson court, which spanned from the 14th to the 20th century.”
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Royal Term #6: Figurehead
A: Symbolic leader without real power
B: Monogrammed stationery
C: Royal accountant
Answer: A—Symbolic leader without real power
As in, “Many contemporary monarchs are merely figureheads.”
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Royal Term#7: Noblesse oblige
A: Idea that privilege entails obligations
B: Duty of peasants to respect nobility
C: Labour owed to a feudal lord
Answer: A—Idea that privilege entails obligations
As in, “Charity work is seen by some as part of the noblesse oblige of royalty.”
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Royal Term #8: Livery
A: Monarch’s allowance
B: Court etiquette
C: Servant’s uniform
Answer: C—Servant’s uniform
As in, “Louis XIV’s retainers wore livery of red, white and blue.”
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Royal Term #9: Primogeniture
A: Hereditary disease of Russian royalty
B: Participation by royalty in democratic governments
C: System in which the first-born child inherits all property or titles
Answer: C—System in which the first-born child inherits all property or titles
As in, “In 1980, Sweden adopted absolute primogeniture so Princess Victoria would inherit the throne instead of her younger brother.”
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Royal Term #10: Albertopolis
A: Concentrated area of cultural sites in London
B: Nickname for Calgary
C: Prominent magazine for royal gossip
Answer: A—Concentrated area of cultural sites in London
As in, “Albertopolis was named for Prince Albert, an enthusiastic patron of the arts and sciences.”
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Royal Term #11: Tyrant
A: Royal toddler
B: Oppressive leader
C: Formulaic speech
Answer: B—Oppressive leader
As in, “History remembers Emperor Nero as a murderous tyrant.”
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Royal Term #12: Dynasty
A: Nostalgia
B: Succession of hereditary rulers
C: Conflation of church and state
Answer: B—Succession of hereditary rulers
As in, “China’s Zhou dynasty lasted nearly 800 years.”
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Royal Term #13: Fanfare
A: Public appearance by royals
B: Crown-shaped pasta
C: Ceremonial tune played on brass instruments
Answer: C—Ceremonial tune played on brass instruments
As in, “The appearance of King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand was greeted with fanfare.
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Royal Term #14: Crenellations
A: Tattoo design of Inuit leadership
B: Castle battlements
C: Calls to abolish royalty
Answer: B—Castle battlements
As in, “Though practical for defence, crenellations were also likely a status symbol during the Middle Ages.”
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Royal Term #15: Welsh corgi
A: Royal guard
B: White pleated collar
C: Short-legged dog breed
Answer: C—Short-legged dog breed
As in, “The first of Queen Elizabeth II’s Welsh corgis was named Dookie.”
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