'How you dey?': Prince Charles speaks Pidgin on visit to Nigeria

‘God don butta my bread’

(AFP/Getty Images)

Prince Charles has tried his hand at speaking Pidgin, the lingua franca used in west and central Africa, while on a visit to Lagos in Nigeria.

The Prince of Wales spoke to some of the city’s leading politicians and former heads of state at a reception at the deputy high commissioner’s residence on Wednesday.

He began his address by asking “How you dey?”, speaking to a crowd which also included prolific figures in Nigeria’s music, fashion and art industries.

“I find it hard to believe that nearly 30 years have passed since I first came to this city,” the 69-year-old royal said, before referring to Lagos as “Lasgidi”.

According to AFP reports, he went on the explain his admiration for the Lagos, saying: “As they say, ‘God don butta my bread’,” which translates to: God has blessed me.

Britain's Prince Charles speaks with Commonwealth Walkway representatives, during a reception at the Deputy High Commissioner’s Residence in Lagos (Reuters)

Pidgin is a simplified form of language which combines elements from local languages. It’s nobody’s first language and varies between regions.

Prince Charles’ use of it come in the run up to his 70th birthday on 14 November, which is being marked by a special BBC documentary.

It will include an in-depth interview with the Prince of Wales, which preview clips have shown him speaking openly about how his role in the public eye will change once he becomes king.

He acknowledged he would not be “able to do the same things I’ve done as heir,” adding that he would no longer “meddle” in political issues when he makes the transition.

“You know, I've tried to make sure whatever I've done has been non-party political, and I think it's vital to remember there's only room for one sovereign at a time, not two,” he continued.

“So, you can't be the same as the sovereign if you're the Prince of Wales or the heir.

“But the idea somehow that I'm going to go on in exactly the same way, if I have to succeed, is complete nonsense because the two - the two situations - are completely different.“

“The film, Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70, is due to air on BBC One on Thursday evening.