Correct Form: “Which is Correct: ‘His Majesty, with Her Majesty, has had His Majesty’s Lunch’ or ‘His Majesty, with Her Majesty, has had Their Majesties’ Lunch’?”

When it comes to the use of royal titles in English, there are certain rules and conventions that must be followed. This is particularly true when referring to more than one royal personage in the same sentence. The question at hand is whether it is correct to say “His Majesty, with Her Majesty, has had His Majesty’s lunch” or “His Majesty, with Her Majesty, has had Their Majesties’ lunch”. This article will delve into the intricacies of English grammar and royal etiquette to provide a definitive answer.

Understanding the Grammar

Firstly, it’s important to understand the grammatical rules that apply in this situation. The phrase “His Majesty, with Her Majesty, has had…” is correct because the verb ‘has’ agrees with the subject ‘His Majesty’. The phrase ‘with Her Majesty’ is a prepositional phrase and does not affect the verb agreement. Therefore, from a purely grammatical perspective, the sentence is correct.

Considering the Context

However, context is also important. If both His Majesty and Her Majesty are having lunch together, it would be more appropriate to use ‘Their Majesties’ lunch’. This is because the lunch is being shared by both of them. In this case, the sentence would be “Their Majesties have had Their Majesties’ lunch”.

Respecting Royal Etiquette

When it comes to royal etiquette, things can get a bit more complicated. According to Debrett’s, a leading authority on etiquette and behaviour, it is correct to refer to the monarch as ‘His Majesty’ or ‘Her Majesty’ and to use the possessive form ‘His Majesty’s’ or ‘Her Majesty’s’ when referring to something that belongs to the monarch. However, when referring to both the king and queen, it is more appropriate to use ‘Their Majesties’ and ‘Their Majesties”.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both sentences could be considered correct depending on the context. If the king is the main subject and the queen is merely accompanying him, then “His Majesty, with Her Majesty, has had His Majesty’s lunch” would be correct. However, if both the king and queen are equally involved in the action, then “Their Majesties have had Their Majesties’ lunch” would be the more appropriate phrase. As always, it’s important to consider both the grammatical rules and the specific context when deciding which phrase to use.