英國哈里王子和梅根 · 馬克爾的婚禮即將到來。英王室已向 600 位賓客發(fā)出邀請信，另有 200 人受邀參加婚禮晚宴。英國首相 特蕾莎 · 梅和工黨領袖科爾賓不在婚禮嘉賓名單上，這是因為事先已決定只有這對新人的熟識才會收到邀請。

文字稿

The political list can be hundreds long – military and religious figures, foreign dignitaries, diplomats, members of the House of Lords, politicians. At a big venue like Westminster Abbey, which can take more than 2,000 guests, the list can be easily accommodated. But St George's chapel in Windsor takes 800 people at best and there's much less constitutional significance to this wedding than some – Prince Harry is currently fifth in line to the throne.

政界賓客的名單可能會多達數(shù)百人，包括軍事和宗教人物、外國顯要、外交官、英國上議院議員和政治家。像威斯敏斯特大教堂這樣可容納2000多位嘉賓的大型場地的確能為這張名單上的人們提供綽綽有余的空間。但位于溫莎城堡內的圣喬治教堂最多只能容納800人，而且本次王室婚禮較其它婚禮來說并沒有太多憲法上的意義，哈里王子目前是英國王位的第五順位繼承人（2018年4月23日劍橋公爵次子出生后，哈里王子成為英王位第六順位繼承人）。

So the list has been done away with - a royal source says that only those that have a direct relationship with the couple will be invited. That might have included the Obamas – the former president struck up a friendship with Prince Harry at the Invictus Games for injured military veterans – but the Obamas are not coming.

所以，這張名單已被廢除，來自王室的消息稱，只有與這對新人有直接關系的人才會受邀參加婚禮。這樣一來，婚禮嘉賓就可能包括奧巴馬一家，因為這位美國前總統(tǒng)曾在為受傷退伍軍人發(fā)起的“不可征服運動會”上與哈里王子認識并成為朋友，但奧巴馬一家并未受邀。

At the same time as clarifying those who are not invited, Kensington Palace released details of some of those who will be invited into the grounds of Windsor Castle on the day. Amongst them, community volunteers, charity workers and military veterans.

在闡明未被邀請的人物及原因的同時，肯辛頓宮發(fā)布了婚禮當天受邀進入溫莎城堡場地的賓客名單。其中包括社區(qū)志愿者、慈善工作者和退伍軍人等。

1. 詞匯表

figures 人物，人士
dignitaries 顯要，要人
the House of Lords 英國國會上議院
constitutional 憲法的
in line to the throne 王位繼承人
done away with 被廢除、取消
a royal source 一位王室內部人士
military veterans 退伍軍人
community volunteers 社區(qū)志愿者
charity workers 慈善工作者

2. 閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題。

1. Why might it not be so important to have a large venue like Westminster Abbey for this? particular wedding?

2. True or false? Only people related to Prince Harry or Megan Markle have been invited to the wedding.

3. Will the Obamas be attending the wedding?

4. In which place is the wedding being organised and where the invites are being sent from?

3. 答案

1. Why might it not be so important to have a large venue like Westminster Abbey for this? particular wedding?
There will be fewer guests as there's much less constitutional significance to this wedding than some – Prince Harry is only fifth in line to the throne.

2. True or false? Only people related to Prince Harry or Megan Markle have been invited to the wedding.
False. Only people with a direct relationship with Harry and Megan have been invited but they do not need to be related.

3. Will the Obamas be attending the wedding?
No they won't. Despite the former president striking up a friendship with Prince Harry at the Invictus Games for injured military veterans, the Obamas will not be coming.

4. In which place is the wedding being organised and where are the invites being sent from?
Kensington Palace.