Confessions of a Tatler editor and English teacher: Best compliment or worst insult!

Princess Partyr
Every weekend I teach more than 10 classes at different levels. One of my classes is an all-girls class at Primary 2 level (they are 8 years of age going on 9). They love princesses and wanted to have a princess party. After getting the parents permission we finally had our party.

What is a Princess Party?
This is my first time to attend a princess party and this is the format:

Pure Privacyr
As this is a private party, there were no cameras because royalty don’t like to be photographed when they are off duty. So there are no pics.

Wallflowerr
All the students were princesses and when I suggested I was also a princess that was rejected swiftly and sharply. I was dejected – not even in the land of make-believe could I be accepted as a princess! The look of disappointment was so palpable that one student suggested I could be the queen. I readily agreed but hoped they were not thinking of how Queen Elizabeth II looks today!

Tiara Timer
Every princess donned a tiara and the table was overflowing with colorful jewelry. Necklaces and other jewels were donned and I got a pretty one.

Makeupr
Princesses wear lip gloss! Now does a queen? The princesses were not of one mind on this but in the end the majority decided I should also wear lip gloss.
Harmless fun I hope you will agree. Decked out in all our finery we then had our class.

Princess Problemsr
After the class as I looked back I was reminded of the time when I was sub-editor of Singapore Tatler. We had numerous editorial discussions whether we should use the word Princess in the heading or text when doing a personality article about someone from high society.

Princess Thoughtsr
When we think of princesses we think of the best from the real world or from fantasy. Diana, Princess of Wales comes to mind in modern times and Princess Rapunzel(by marriage) from fairy-tale land. So isn't describing a successful pretty leader of high society as a princess a compliment and not an insult? – the problem is the collocation complication.

Collocation Complication
Collocations are words that go together and when they go together they often can take on a whole new meaning and can be the opposite of what you thought and derogatory at times. The use of the word princess is one such example.

She’s such a Princess!
The informal meaning which means the meaning as understood by legions of native speakers is that a princess is a pampered girl who has been sheltered all her life to the extent that she doesn’t have much idea about the real world.

Spoilt Bratr
She is such a princess means that she is so pampered and spoiled. In other words, a spoilt brat. She may also have a superior air about her. She may be high maintenance and is used to getting her way. Thus if you are described as a princess it may not be the best compliment.

Lovely Ladyr
Coming back to my Primary 2 students – I always tell them that true beauties look physically nice and also beautiful words come from their mouths. Now that is the definition of a lovely lady and perhaps an angel too.