Where the king makes announcements

I seem to recall Charles and Diana standing on a balcony when their engagement was announced. (She looked petrified.) Surely a king can stand wherever he wants! In front of a memorial to his most revered ancestor; in the Blue Drawing Room via TV. Pick a place, any place.

JDCrayne said:

I seem to recall Charles and Diana standing on a balcony when their engagement was announced. (She looked petrified.)

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You'd be too if you were marrying a guy with ears that big.

In answer to the OP I would also use balcony. No other special word is needed. The Royals in the U.K., Japan, Spain, Norway, Sweden, etc., would probably use a high place so they can be seen. (Actually they'd use the media, but you get the idea). Same for a royal in a fantasy setting.

Personally I would have the king make the announcement by nailing a note to the forehead of a person in every village and town. But that's just me.

In ye olde France

bluejester12 said:

When the king overlooks his subjects and makes an announcement, like to announce his bride to be or whatever...where does the king stand? Is that usually on a balcony of the palace? Is there a name for that part of the building?

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In ye olde France there was a special legal pronoucement event called a "lit de justice" or bed of Justice. I suppose the King would annouce his absolute will from bed just to show how much precedence he had over everyone else.

Or "don't make me get up and write a new legal system for you."

You did not specify whether king is a contemporary constitutional monarch (i.e., a highly-paid figurehead) or a real one (i.e., 19th-century or earlier).
A "real" king would be unlikely to stand on a balcony (rooftop, pedestal, pulpit, or similar eminence) and "make an announcement" to his subjects. He might well say something to his court--at a banquet or from his throne--but "announcements" would most likely be made by heralds, probably on horseback, in various parts of the capital city and realm. If the populace is literate, bulletins could be posted in public places. In a Christian country, at least, royal announcements might be read out by the priests (since the vast majority of people would be there).

Of course, if you meant a contemporary "royal," I suppose that anything goes.

Kings are busy people. Where does he meet the lucky couple, at court, evening banquet? What is the King's interest, is the man his best knight, or the woman a lady of the court, is it a diplomatic marriage?

Contemporary monarchs do photo ops on balconies and wave at the crowd. But the answer to Bluejester's question is definitely balcony. He wanted the name of the structure.

The old Pope held masses an prayer and announcements from his balcony. He was aided by microphone, but there's no reason a loudmouth herald couldn't read from a script while the king nodded along...

Vomaxx said:

A "real" king would be unlikely to stand on a balcony (rooftop, pedestal, pulpit, or similar eminence) and "make an announcement" to his subjects.

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That depends on the era and the kind of announcement. In the Middle Ages, such direct interactions were fairly standard:

• When the king was dispensing justice, e.g. overseeing a trial by combat between nobles, or else Saint Louis of France hearing petitions under an oak tree.
• When the king was speaking to an army from horseback.
• Possibly, when the king presided over a tournament.
• In Parliament, or equivalent.

Otherwise, we're talking major events:

• Stage managed political theatre, e.g. King Edward I of England presenting Edward II to the Welsh on a shield.
• Dramatic historic moments, for example Richard II addressing rebellious peasants from horseback.

only so many people can hear you from a balcony, so unless it's a 'princess bride' kind of story, i'd issue announcements in court and have copies dispersed to those who would tell of it to the masses, like in churches as mentioned. after all, by the time the guy in the back of the announcement from the balcony, the story will have them going to war against the mermen asteed magical squirrels, purple monkey dish washer.

i could be wrong, but imo i'd say making an announcement from a balcony to more than a couple hundred people bunched together isn't terribly effective, and why waste your time announcing to that many peons, anyway?

preyer said:

only so many people can hear you from a balcony, so unless it's a 'princess bride' kind of story, i'd issue announcements in court and have copies dispersed to those who would tell of it to the masses, like in churches as mentioned. after all, by the time the guy in the back of the announcement from the balcony, the story will have them going to war against the mermen asteed magical squirrels, purple monkey dish washer.

i could be wrong, but imo i'd say making an announcement from a balcony to more than a couple hundred people bunched together isn't terribly effective, and why waste your time announcing to that many peons, anyway?

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You might be surprised. The big political rallies of the 19th century were all made sans-PA system. Also, I suspect kings would have good "command voices".

Any military types care to chip in here?

Also, the court yards such balconies overlooked were enclosed with high stone walls that reflected sound well. I've been in some castle-type buildings in Germany where you could hear whispers 100 meters away. Outdoors. With aircraft overhead.

Okay not while the aircraft were overhead...but almost.

preyer said:

i could be wrong, but imo i'd say making an announcement from a balcony to more than a couple hundred people bunched together isn't terribly effective

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Yes--remember the Sermon on the Mount in the Monty Python film? "Blessed are the cheesemakers ... Blessed are the Greeks...."

Vomaxx said:

Yes--remember the Sermon on the Mount in the Monty Python film? "Blessed are the cheesemakers ... Blessed are the Greeks...."

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"He said the meek shall inherit the earth!"

"Oh, that's nice, they have a helluva time."



That deflates the drama out of big announcement scenes pretty quick.

But otherwise, it's the king. He can announce from any damn place he wants to. If you don't like it, are you going to complain? He'll have you nailed to a stake by your ears. C'mon.

He sends out beautifully illuminated Proclamations, read by designated heralds in villages across the land.

So there.

And he ends it with "So let it be written, so let it be done." Or else he's got no bloody style at all.

sure, if there are acoustic considerations such as high stone walls, that might certainly help... but then again, i'd imagine those walls would have to be relatively close together, rather negating 'throngs' of people. ??

i'm reminded of the announcer in the movie 'gladiator,' where he supposedly could be heard by all. that's also under the assumption that the colisseum was built with this acoustic in mind, but i guess it's conceivable. ??

there are certain acoustic anomolies that indeed allow you to hear a whisper from across the room. one of our federal buildings in d.c. was built to mimic this, which, if i recall, was an idea stolen from another building which was based on the discovery from a cave.

i take it, though, that this balcony wasn't built with all sorts of ideas like this in mind?

if i also remember correctly, it seems to me i recall some comment about people not being able to actually hear the candidates from the back during those political rallies. unless the history channel is lying to me or i'm making up memories, lol. as i consider it, though, i'd say you could probably be heard about a hundred yards or so outside if you've a 'large' voice, elevated, and without tons of acoustic tricks helping you out. ??