ally embarrassing relative of Kate has emerged: her dissolute uncle Gary, brother of Carole, who sports a "Nouveau Riche" tattoo across his shoulder blades.) It turns out that the couple and their circle are united in another kind of social grouping, known as rahs or yahs, roughly equivalent to American preppies. A recent Slate article lampooned the affluent ways of the rahs and how they stereotypically speak:
What is the rah patois? You must know our ding-a-lingo, darling. Everything is glorious, divine, splendid, beauteous, naughty, a twirling whirl. We adore archaisms: alas, anon, perchance. Never say evening. It's eve. Never say balsamic. It's balsam. Adorn everything with French. Je t'embrasse. Ce soir. Chez moi. I am a flâneuse. You are a flâneur. Let us troubadour ensemble. Bisous!
Bonded in rah-dom, perhaps Kate and William can steer clear of the social pitfalls of past generations, creating a new kind of prestigious talk to aspire to. In the meantime, if you happen to get an audience with William's grandmum, remember not to tell her you're pleased to meet her.