Royal 'we'

[ludwig]

When and why did the monarch start referring to them selves in the plural?

[Octavius]

Pluralis Majestatis ("Majestic Plural") or 'Royal We' (no sniggering at the back) is the idea that a monarch or other high official always speaks for their people.  It is also referred to as the 'Victorian We'.

Examples of purported instances:

We are not amused. Queen Victoria (in at least one account of this quotation, though, she was not speaking for herself alone, but for the ladies of the court.)

We are a grandmother. Margaret Thatcher announcing the birth of Mark Thatcher's son Michael in 1990.

[Octavius]

It was said that United States Navy Admiral Hyman G. Rickover told a subordinate that used the Royal We: "Three groups are permitted that usage: pregnant women, royalty, and schizophrenics. Which one are you?"

[Quizmonster]

As to the start of this usage, the earliest recorded example in English appears to have been King Henry VI in the mid 15th century. I am unsure whether such plural forms of the 'style royal' existed earlier in other languages.

[Quizmonster]

I forgot to add to my earlier response that by 'earliest' I meant as used by an actual historical English monarch. In fact, there is an example of the usage as far back as 'Beowulf', the 10th century poem.