王子与公主从此幸福地生活在一起……这不仅仅只是童话故事的结尾，在现实生活中，美好的故事也如戏剧般演绎。英国王子威廉与他的公主凯特经过八年的风雨同舟、分分合合，终于在世人的关注与期盼中订下婚约。4月29日，世界的目光将聚焦英国，见证王子与公主的幸福时刻。
The Princess Diaries, The Prince and Me, The Princess Bride—the public just can't get enough of melodramatic1) fairytales. Thank goodness there are real-life royals around to satiate2) our palates3) for royal romances. This one began once upon a time amid the humble backdrop4) of the campus at the University of St. Andrews in 2000.
《公主日记》《王子与我》(又名《麻雀变凤凰》)《公主新娘》——公众永远不会对情节夸张的童话故事感到厌倦。谢天谢地，世间还存在现实版的皇室来满足我们对皇家爱情故事的喜好。而这次的故事开始于很久以前的一个普通背景之下：2000年圣安德鲁斯大学的校园里。
The couple's meeting couldn't have been scripted better: when Kate Middleton first met Prince William, she (who was a year ahead of William) made a gesture resembling an awkward half-curtsy5). William, who had been attempting to play down6) his royal status and fit in with the rest of his classmates, was taken so off-guard7) that he spilled his drink all over himself. Not quite the etiquette8) you expect from a royal heir, but Kate was intrigued9) by William's unpretentious10) demeanor11).
没有什么比这对情侣的相识更具戏剧性了：当凯特·米德尔顿第一次遇到威廉王子的时候，比威廉年长一岁的她做了一个类似于半屈膝礼的笨拙姿势。而威廉一直试图放低自己的王室身份，以便融入其他同学，因此他被惊了个措手不及，连手中的饮料都泼了出来，溅了自己一身。这虽不是你所期待的皇室继承人应该表现出来的礼节，然而威廉谦逊的举止却让凯特对他产生了兴趣。
The two were fast friends12) and ran in similar social circles but had no idea that a whirlwind royal romance was in the cards13)—Kate was already involved with someone, and William wasn't looking for a serious relationship. But things would change at a St. Andrews fundraising fashion show. Kate was asked to model a sheer14), strapless15) dress. William made sure to get a £200 front-row seat to cheer on his friend. It's the stuff of royal legend: A young university coed16) catwalks past a handsome prince and steals his heart. The young prince-on-campus, Prince William, cranes17) his neck to get a glimpse of18) the brunette19) beauty, Kate Middleton, and their fairytale romance begins. The £45 silk dress famously worn by Middleton and created by young design student Charlotte Todd in 2000 is now a royal artifact worth at least £15,000.
两人成了挚友，并融入了差不多的社交圈，但他们谁都没有想到，一段轰轰烈烈的皇室爱情将悄然萌生——当时凯特已经在与别人谈恋爱了，而威廉并没有打算寻求一段认真的感情。但是，情况将在圣安德鲁斯大学举办的一场慈善募捐时装秀上发生改变。凯特受邀作为模特来展示一款透明的无肩带礼服。而威廉当然要给朋友捧场，于是就花200英镑买了一张第一排座位的票。接着，一段皇室传奇上演了：一位年轻的女大学生迈着猫步走过一位英俊的王子身旁，偷走了王子的心。还是学生的年轻王子威廉伸长了脖子去看这位深色皮肤的美丽女孩——凯特·米德尔顿。他们之间童话般的浪漫故事就此展开。那件由一位时装设计系的年轻学生夏洛特·托德在2000年设计的丝质连衣裙当时不过价值45英镑，经由米德尔顿这么一穿便一举成名。如今，它已经成为一件皇室工艺品，至少价值1.5万英镑。
Still friends, in the fall of 2002, Kate and William decided to round up20) two more buddies and platonically21) share a four-bedroom flat. Although rumors began to swirl that the attractive couple was more than just roommates, Kate and William denied anything but a great friendship. But the tabloids22) were on to23) something—in April of 2004, the two hit the Swiss mountains together on a skiing vacation and finally admitted that they were, in fact, a couple.
在2002年秋天，依然保持着朋友关系的凯特和威廉决定叫上另外两个好朋友一起以“纯精神友谊”的关系合租一套四居室的公寓。虽然传言开始四起，说这两个有魅力的年轻人不仅仅是室友那么简单，但凯特和威廉对此一概否认，只承认他们是挚友。但是，花边小报意识到了事情没那么简单——在2004年4月，一起去瑞士山区滑雪度假的两个人终于承认，他们其实是一对情侣。
Things went too far when photog-raphers began documenting Kate's every move and even published the location and photos of her London apartment. In February 2006, Kate was told she would be supplied with a 24-hour security detail24). But because no engagement between Kate and William was underway, the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department could not justify the cost of the extra security force, and Kate was left to fend for herself.
而当摄影师开始记录凯特的一举一动，甚至公布她伦敦公寓的地址和照片时，事情便发展得有些过火了。 2006年2月，凯特被告知，皇家将为她配备一支24小时安全护卫队。但由于凯特和威廉的婚约尚未提上日程，因此皇家和外交保卫部无从证明护卫队这笔额外开支的合法性，于是只能让凯特自己照顾自己了。
Still, the lack of a ring on her finger didn't mean that things weren't serious. In December of 2006, Queen Elizabeth herself invited Kate to attend the royal Christmas lunch. Although Kate respectfully declined25) the invitation in favor of spending time with her own family, it was a gesture that meant the royal family was bracing for26) a new member.
但是，手指上缺少一枚戒指并不意味着这是一段随便的感情。2006年12月，伊丽莎白女王亲自邀请凯特参加王室的圣诞午宴。虽然凯特恭敬地回绝了女王的邀请而选择与自己的家人共度节日，然而这已表明了王室准备接受一位新成员的姿态。
Recognizing the pressure that his girlfriend felt, in 2007, William reportedly broke up with Kate over the phone. Contrasting reports speculated27) that he wanted to date other women; that, at 24 years old, he felt too young to marry; and that he simply felt guilty for the media scrutiny and constant expectations that were being leveled28) on her. The pair reportedly licked their wounds by dating and hitting the party circuit, but the fate ultimately led them back into one another's arms. They reunited months later, and she attended the Aug. 10 anniversary memorial that William and Prince Harry had arranged for their late mother.
据报道，由于意识到女友所承受的压力，威廉王子在2007年与凯特通过电话分手。而与此不同的报道也做出各种推测，或称威廉王子是想与其他女人约会，或称24岁的威廉觉得谈婚论嫁还为时尚早，又或认为他只是对凯特所受到的那些媒体监视以及人们对她无休止的期待感到内疚。据报道，两人通过各自结识新欢及出席各种派对场所来舔舐自己的伤口，不过命运最终还是让他们回到了彼此的怀抱。几个月后他们又复合了，而且凯特还出席了威廉和哈里王子于8月为亡母戴安娜王妃举办的逝世十周年的纪念仪式。
The two continued to date for the next three years, and in November 2010, made history when they announced their engagement. William had popped the question29) with Princess Diana's 18-carat30) sapphire31) engagement ring (a gift from Harry) while the two were vacationing in Kenya—after the polite prince had asked for Kate's father's blessing and approval, of course.
他们又继续交往了三年之后，历史性的一刻终于到来——他们在2010年11月宣布订婚。两人在肯尼亚度假时，威廉王子用戴安娜王妃那枚18克拉的蓝宝石订婚戒指(这是哈里王子送给他的礼物)向凯特求了婚——当然，礼貌的王子事先征得了凯特父亲的同意，并且得到了他的祝福。
Forget economics and politics, it will be the collective "oooohs" and "ahhhs" heard round the world that will make history when, on April 29th, 2011, Kate gracefully steps from her carriage and down the aisle of Westminster Abbey32).
忘掉经济和政治吧。2011年4月29日那天，当凯特优雅地走下马车，沿着威斯敏斯特教堂的走道走向圣坛之时，全世界一齐发出的欢呼与赞叹之声将会创造历史。
Archbishop33) of Canterbury Rowan Williams will marry the couple in an 11 a.m. ceremony.
坎特伯雷大主教罗恩·威廉斯将在上午11点为这对新人主持结婚仪式。
The wedding will be the most expensive celebrity wedding of all time and likely cost the British taxpayers more than $20 million dollars.
这场婚礼将会是有史以来最为昂贵的一场名流婚礼，很可能将会花掉英国纳税人超过两千万美元的税款。
Britons and visitors can try to catch a glimpse of the couple as they glide by in a horse-drawn carriage, when it travels through Parliament Square34), Whitehall35), Horse Guards Parade36) and the Mall, or they can gather near Buckingham Palace, where William and his bride are expected to emerge into public view briefly on the balcony.
这对新人会坐着马车缓慢通过国会广场、白厅、皇家骑兵卫队阅兵场和林荫道，英国人和游客们可以设法在马车驶过时一睹新人的风采；或者他们也可以聚集在白金汉宫附近，因为威廉王子和他的新娘应该会短暂地出现在那里的阳台上与公众见面。
This is the same balcony where William's parents, Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, kissed after their 1981 wedding, and where wartime leader Winston Churchill joined the royal family to wave to the public in triumph at the end of World War II.
而这个阳台正是威廉的父母，也就是查尔斯王子和已故戴安娜王妃于1981年举行完婚礼之后亲吻的地方，也是二战结束时，战时的英国首相温斯顿·丘吉尔与皇室成员一起向欢庆胜利的公众们挥手致意的地方。
Queen Elizabeth II, William's grandmother, will host a reception at Buckingham Palace after the wedding ceremony. At the night of the wedding, Prince Charles will host a dinner and dance at Buckingham Palace for family members and close friends of the newlyweds37).
威廉的祖母，女王伊丽莎白二世将于婚礼结束后在白金汉宫举办一场招待会。婚礼当晚，查尔斯王子将在白金汉宫为家庭成员及新婚夫妇的密友们举办一场晚宴和舞会。
William's little brother Harry is planning the bachelor party38). Meanwhile, the night before the wedding, Middleton will stay overnight in central London at one of the palaces.
威廉的弟弟哈里正在为哥哥筹划单身汉舞会。而那时，也就是婚礼前夜，米德尔顿将会在伦敦市中心的某一座宫殿中住一晚。
1. melodramatic [ˌmelədrəˈmætɪk] adj. 戏剧似的；夸张的；情节剧的
2. satiate [ˈseɪʃieɪt] vt. 充分满足
3. palate [ˈpælət] n. 趣味；味觉
4. backdrop [ˈbækˌdrɒp] n. 背景
5. curtsy [ˈkɜː(r)tsi] n. 屈膝礼
6. play down: 降低……的重要性
7. off-guard [ˈɒfɡɑː(r)d] adj. 不提防的
8. etiquette [ˈetɪket] n. 礼节，礼仪；规矩
9. intrigue [ɪnˈtriːɡ] vt. 激起……的兴趣
10. unpretentious [ˌʌnprɪˈtenʃəs] adj. 谦逊的；不夸耀的
11. demeanor [dɪˈmiːnə(r)] n. 举止，行为；风度
12. fast friend: 可靠的朋友
13. in the cards: 可能发生的
14. sheer [ʃɪə(r)] adj. 透明的
15. strapless [ˈstræpləs] adj. 无吊带的；无带的；无背带的
16. coed [ˈkəʊed] n. (男女同校、尤指大学的)女生
17. crane [kreɪn] vt. 伸长脖子
18. get a glimpse of: 瞥见
19. brunette [bruːˈnet] adj. 浅黑肤色的；深色的
20. round up: 集拢(分散的人或物)
21. platonically [pləˈtɒnɪkli] adv. 纯精神友谊地
22. tabloid [ˈtæblɔɪd] n. 小报；文摘；小型画报
23. be on to: 了解……的情况；识透(某人)的意图
24. detail [ˈdiːteɪl] n. 特派小分队，选派的小队(或小组等)，(陆、海军等的)特遣队
25. decline [dɪˈklaɪn] vt. 婉辞；谢绝
26. brace for: 准备接受……
27. speculate [ˈspekjʊleɪt] vt. 推断
28. level [ˈlev(ə)l] vt. 针对
29. pop the question: 求婚
30. carat [ˈkærət] n. 克拉(= karat)，钻石等珠宝的重量单位，1克拉= 0.2克
31. sapphire [ˈsæfaɪə(r)] n. 蓝宝石；青玉；天蓝色
32. Westminster Abbey: 威斯敏斯特教堂，正式名称为“圣彼得联合教堂”，坐落在英国伦敦。最初于960年开始修建，1245年重建，经历代增建，直到1745年才竣工。这里有丘吉尔、牛顿、达尔文、狄更斯、布朗宁等人之墓，也曾是戴安娜王妃葬礼的举办地。
33. archbishop [ɑː(r)tʃˈbɪʃəp] n. 【宗】大主教；总教主
34. Parliament Square: 国会广场(即议会广场)
35. Whitehall [ˈwaɪtˌhɔːl] n. 白厅，是伦敦市内的一条街，连接议会大厦和唐宁街(英国首相官邸所在地)。一些英国重要政府机关设在这条街及其附近，因此人们用“白厅”作为英国行政部门的代称。
36. Horse Guards Parade: 皇家骑兵卫队阅兵场
37. newlyweds [ˈnjuːliˌwedz] n. 新婚夫妇
38. bachelor party: 单身汉舞会，是男性友人为祝贺某单身男子即将结婚而在婚礼前夕举行的、只有男士参加的聚会。