INSTITUTIONAL DISCOURSE VERSUS INDIVIDUAL VOICE: LINGUISTIC MANIFESTATIONS IN BRITISH ROYAL BROTHERS' PUBLIC SPEECHES

Abstract

This article examines the linguistic characteristics of the public speeches given by Prince William and Prince Harry from a comparative standpoint. This research analyses various aspects of the princes' speeches (pre- and post-2018), including lexical, stylistic, and discursive elements. It is done on the basis of 42 official speeches given between 2008 and 2025. Corpus analysis shows that the language has transformed in two very different directions. This dichotomy includes: Prince William's speeches with a strong increase of institutional features in a speech building, and, at the same time, a decrease in personal references to support the strengthening of traditional modes of communication. On the other hand, Prince Harry's speeches may be charachterised by strong personalization and expressing emotions that correspond to deviating from the formal ways of communicating. The study shows their different institutional stances and modes of communication. Princes use pronouns, ceremonial language, metaphorical models, and modal verbs in different ways. It can justified by the analysis of metaphorical models. It displays that Prince William consistently uses the metaphors of ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏ, ʙᴜɪʟᴅɪɴɢ, and ʜᴇʀɪᴛᴀɢᴇ, in order to establish historical succession. In contrast, Prince Harry moves from a member of the monarchy to an independent humanitarian activist.  The transition from metaphors ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏ and ᴛᴇᴀᴍ to the metaphors of ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ, ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ, and ꜰʀᴇᴇᴅᴏᴍ clearly shows this process. This study shows how the linguistic features of public discourse changes in institutional roles, social identity, and individual positioning of princes. It can be clearly seen that the trends go beyond the individual linguistic level; they employ lexical, grammatical, pragmatic, and discursive levels, and it indicates the consistent nature of linguistic changes. Another significant aspect is a qualitative analysis that demonstrates deep differences in the princes' communication techniques. This indicates the development of their public identity and their relationship with the traditional monarchical institution.