The royal we, majestic plural, or royal plural is the use of a plural pronoun used by a single person who is a monarch or holds a high office to refer to themselves. A more general term for the use of a we, us, or our to refer to oneself is nosism.
Latin document of 1249–50 issued by Henry III of England; he uses the phrase Mandamus vobis ("We command you").
Document of 1750 signed by George II of Great Britain, using the royal we in German: Gegeben auf Unserm Palais zu St. James den 3/14ten April des 1750ten Jahres Unsers Reiches im Dreÿ und Zwantzigstem. George R ("Issued in Our Palace of St. James, on 3rd/14th April in the 1750th year in the three and twentieth of Our Reign. George R")
William de Longchamp was a medieval Lord Chancellor, Chief Justiciar, and Bishop of Ely in England. Born to a humble family in Normandy, he owed his advancement to royal favour. Although contemporary writers accused Longchamp's father of being the son of a peasant, he held land as a knight. Longchamp first served Henry II's illegitimate son Geoffrey, but quickly transferred to the service of Richard I, Henry's heir. When Richard became king in 1189, Longchamp paid £3,000 for the office of Chancellor, and was soon named to the see, or bishopric, of Ely and appointed legate by the pope.
Ely Cathedral
Gate at Lincoln Castle, which Longchamp besieged in 1190
