I had a question about the royal we. Long ago in school, I remember being taught that when a monarch used the royal we, he was referring to "himself and god," speaking for both, as part of his whole "divine right to rule" deal. Later, in discussing it with linguistically-excited friends, I heard a different explanation: the royal we means "the monarch and the country as a whole," since, as the country's leader, he's speaking for everyone. What do you think or know or feel about this? Who exactly is the "we" meant to be, specifically in the instance when a monarch is using it?