Countries have differed on whether and when to translate the names of Britain’s royal family. The practice seems to belong to another era
Save time by listening to our audio articles as you multitaskCountries have differed on whether and when to translate the names of the royal family. The Spanish-language media have gone for Carlos, but left Camilla alone. Outlets disagree on what to do with the others; Prince Guillermo’s wife may be Catalina, or she may be Kate. Guillermo’s brother is sometimes Henrique, sometimes Harry . His wife, though, is just Meghan, for which there is no Spanish equivalent.
It used to be common to translate all manner of names. Scholars like Copernicus often published under Latinised names during the Renaissance . Translating the names of people who moved countries continued for centuries. Chopin’s friends didn’t call him Frédéric at the pub in Warsaw; he was born Fryderyk before moving to France. Meanwhile Spain has several places named after the French writer Julio Verne, and 19th-century Spaniards got their communism from Carlos Marx.
But today, the likes of the Royal Spanish Academy say only popes, saints, other religious figures and, yes, monarchs and their family members should be translated. That holy company is a tell: if monarchs no longer tout the divine right to rule, they are still a class quite apart from their subjects. Not that it is impossible to join the club, as Catalina Middleton has found out.