English translation:
(please) try to
(please) look
Structure:
Verb[ て ] + ごらん
Verb[ て ] + ごらんなさい
Explanation:
[suggestion/command used by superiors or elders・similar to なさい]
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I’m confused why an elder might use this grammar. If 御覧なさい is considered an honorific and elderly are 目上 why would they be the ones using this?
なさい in general isn’t normally used with people of higher status. It’s originally respectful language, but so is 食べる, so that alone doesn’t mean much.
Nowadays なさい is typically used by parents or teachers etc. (outside some set expressions like おやすみなさい or ごめんなさい that have their own rules).
ごらん sounds more fancy than みて so people who like fancy language, i.e. old people, might prefer it for that reason.
Also keep in mind that this is a way to give commands. You have to be in a position to give commands to use it.
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