一年一度的最美皇室英音又来了!91岁高龄的伊丽莎白二世女王,在12月25日发表了圣诞致辞。
这是由女王亲自撰稿、英国政府不提供意见的情况下,公开发表个人看法的演讲。这种机会每年也就只有一次,今年已是第65次。
在今年的致辞中,女王着重强调了“家”的主题,并特别赞扬了伦敦和曼彻斯特民众团结一致应对恐怖袭击事件。此外女王还赞美了来自丈夫菲利普亲王的支持,并提及今年是他们结婚的70周年纪念。
女王还尤其提到明年有一位新的家庭成员的加入,很明显,哈里王子明年将和梅根·马克尔大婚,作为王子的老奶奶,她给予了热情的欢迎和祝福。
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Sixty years ago today, a young woman spoke about the speed of technological change as she presented the first television broadcast of its kind. She described the moment as a landmark:
六十年的今天,一位年轻的女士,第一次通过电视,广播了她的讲话。她谈到了科技进化的速度,并把那个时刻称做是里程碑。
Television has made it possible for many of you to see me in your homes on Christmas Day. My own family often gather round to watch television, as they are at this moment. And that is how I imagine you now.
电视的出现,让大家过圣诞节的时候,坐在家里也能看到我。我的家里人也经常围坐在一起看电视,比如现在。我想,你们现在也是。
Six decades on, the presenter has evolved somewhat, as has the technology she described. Back then, who could have imagined that people would one day be watching this on laptops and mobile phones, as some of you are today?
六十年过去了,当年的通过电视广播演讲的女士自己,如她所描述的科技一样,也多少成长了一些。回到那个时候,谁能想到,你们今天会通过电脑或手机来观看我的圣诞演讲呢?
But I'm also struck by something that hasn't changed - that whatever the technology, many of you will be watching this at home.
但是,我也被那些不曾改变的东西所触动,比如,无论科技怎么进化,你们大多数人都会在家观看我的演讲。
We think of our homes as places of warmth, familiarity and love - of shared stories and memories - which is perhaps why, at this time of year, so many return to where they grew up. There is a timeless simplicity to the pull of home. For many, the idea of home reaches beyond a physical building, to a home town or city.
我们的家,充满了我们共同的故事和回忆,温暖、熟悉、以及爱。这也是为什么,每年这个时刻,我们都回到自己成长的地方。对我们来说,“家”,超越了城市里看得见、摸得着的房子,家对我们的吸引,简简单单,超越了时间。
This Christmas, I think of London and Manchester, whose powerful identities shone through over the past 12 months, in the face of appalling attacks. In Manchester, those targeted included children who had gone to see their favourite singer. A few days after the bombing, I had the privilege of meeting some of the young survivors and their parents.
这个圣诞节,我尤其对伦敦和曼彻斯特予以特别情感,因为它们在反抗恐袭中,展现出它们独有的性格,它们的个性让这两个城市在过去十二月烁烁放光。在曼彻斯特,恐袭的对象,甚至包括了一些孩子,他们只是去看看他们最喜爱的歌手。炸弹袭击几天后,我有幸去探望了一些年轻的幸存者和他们的父母。
I described that hospital visit as a privilege because the patients I met were an example to us all, showing extraordinary bravery and resilience. Indeed, many of those who survived the attack came together just days later for a benefit concert. It was a powerful reclaiming of the ground and of the city those young people call home.
我十分“有幸地”进行了那次医院的探望。我所见到的受害者们堪称我们所有人的楷模,他们表现出超乎寻常的勇气和坚韧。事实上,炸弹袭击短短几天后,很多从袭击中幸存的人们重聚在公益演唱会上。这是那些年轻人称作“家”的土地和城市的强有力的声明。
We expect our homes to be a place of safety - sanctuary, even - which makes it all the more shocking when the comfort they provide is shattered. A few weeks ago, the Prince of Wales visited the Caribbean in the aftermath of hurricanes that destroyed entire communities.
我们期望家是一个安全的地方,甚至是一个“避难所”。所以当家所能提供的舒适被粉碎的时候我们会如此震惊。几周前,威尔士王子在飓风的余威中探望了被飓风严重摧毁的加勒比地区。
And here, in London, who can forget the sheer awfulness of the Grenfell Tower fire?Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who died and those who lost so much, and we are indebted to members of the emergency services who risked their own lives this past year, saving others. Many of them, of course, will not be at home today, because they are working to protect us.
同样我所在的伦敦,谁又能忘记格兰菲尔塔大火的可怕无情。我们为那些失去生命和失去挚爱的人祈祷,我们也忘不了那些在过去一年,奋不顾身,奔赴危险,拯救他人生命的救险队员们。 他们中的很多人,即使在现在,也不能和家人一起,因为他们需要工作在第一线,保护我们的安全。
Reflecting on these events makes me grateful for the blessings of home and family and, in particular, for 70 years of marriage. I don't know that anyone had invented the term 'platinum' for a 70th wedding anniversary. When I was born, you weren't expected to be around that long.
回想起过去的一幕幕,我对家和家人给我的庇佑也心怀感恩,尤其,是我长达七十年的婚姻。我不知道是谁发明了“七十年铂金婚”这个说法。当我出生的时候,大概没人想到人可以活那么长。
Even Prince Philip has decided it's time to slow down a little, having, as he economically put it, done his bit. But I know his support and unique sense of humour will remain as strong as ever as we enjoy spending time this Christmas with our family, and look forward to welcoming new members into it next year.
即便是菲利普亲王,他今年也决定慢下来,就像他谦虚地说的那样,他已经完成了他该做的。但我清楚,他对我的支持,以及他独特的幽默感,将如以往一样,成为我们家圣诞节快乐的一幕,我们带着快乐地期盼,欢迎新的家庭成员,在明年加入到我们这个家庭。
In 2018, I will open my home to a different type of family, the leaders of the 52 nations of the Commonwealth, as they gather in the UK for a summit.
2018年,我将敞开家门,欢迎一个独特大家庭的到来:他们是英联邦52个国家的领导人,他们汇聚在英国,参加英联邦峰会。
The Commonwealth has an inspiring way of bringing people together, be it through the Commonwealth Games, which begin in a few months' time on Australia's Gold Coast, or through bodies like the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra and Choir - a reminder of how truly vibrant this international family is.
英联邦有一种鼓舞人心的方式将人们聚集在一起。几个月后将在澳大利亚的黄金海岸举办的英联邦运动会,或是英联邦青年管弦乐团和合唱团的演出,这些活动提醒我们,英联邦这个国际大家庭多么充满活力。
Today we celebrate Christmas, which itself is sometimes described as a festival of the home. Families travel long distances to be together. Volunteers and charities, as well as many churches, arrange meals for the homeless and those who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day. We remember the birth of Jesus Christ whose only sanctuary was a stable in Bethlehem. He knew rejection, hardship and persecution; and yet it is Jesus Christ’s generous love and example which has inspired me through good times and bad.
今天我们庆祝圣诞节,圣诞节也被称作“家的节日”,家人们长途跋涉聚在一起。志愿者,慈善机构和很多教堂为那些无家可归的人和独自度过圣诞节的人准备了食物。我们知道耶稣基督降生在伯乐恒的马厩里。他经历了拒绝,艰难和迫害,但耶稣基督的大爱和榜样激励着我度过顺境和逆境。
Whatever your own experience is this year, wherever and however you are watching, I wish you a peaceful and very happy Christmas.
无论你今年经历了什么,无论你在哪里,以何种方式观看我的圣诞讲话,祝你拥有一个平安快乐的圣诞节。
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