“Do you mind if I ask you a lot of dumb American questions,” Mr Letterman began, as he interviewed our Prime Minister this week on The Late Show with David Letterman.
After asking the PM who composed Rule Britannia and further testing his knowledge with the question “What’s the deal with Wales?”, he then moved on to the whereabouts of the Magna Carta.
Although he knew the year it was signed (1215), Cameron was stumped as to its location and answered “It does exist”. Pat on the back CamMan.
Despite having an O-Level in Latin, David Cameron also struggled with the translation.
(So you know: Rule Britannia = Thomas Arne, Magna Carta = “Big Charter”)
Take our quickfire quiz of notable Latin phrases and their English translations to see if you could do better...
Know your Latin: The Friday Quiz
Buy the new Independent eBook - £1.99 A celebration of those who risk their lives for women's rights, a century after Emily Wilding Davison's death.
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
How will you make today delicious?
Tell us how you plan to make today delicious and you could win a £50 M&S gift card.
Learn a new language
Add another string to your bow with Rosetta Stone, whether it's Spanish, Italian or Mandarin...
Making reading fun for kids
Nook is donating eReaders to volunteers at high-need schools and participating in exclusive events throughout the campaign.
Introducing the 'Get Reading' campaign
Get the latest on The Evening Standard's campaign to get London's children reading.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Get the best in opinion from Independent Voices, straight to your inbox every Thursday lunchtime.
Subscribe
Amol Rajan
A weekly update from the Editor
The true effect of the badger cull
First night: The Cripple of Inishmaan
Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen
Steve Tongue
Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Wiggins' exit
Hannah England: Keeping Track
Beards, brawn and body art
Scandi-geeks descend on Nordicana for fan-convention
The Great Green Wall of Africa,
Laughter Inc
The bad science scandal
Female aristocrats battle to inherit the title
In pictures: JFK's visit to Berlin in 1963
Mark Hix gets creative with English peas
Chef Martin Morales: Ceviche with a smile
