英国哈里王子和梅根 · 马克尔的婚礼即将到来。英王室已向 600 位宾客发出邀请信，另有 200 人受邀参加婚礼晚宴。英国首相 特蕾莎 · 梅和工党领袖科尔宾不在婚礼嘉宾名单上，这是因为事先已决定只有这对新人的熟识才会收到邀请。

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.

政界宾客的名单可能会多达数百人，包括军事和宗教人物、外国显要、外交官、英国上议院议员和政治家。像威斯敏斯特大教堂这样可容纳2000多位嘉宾的大型场地的确能为这张名单上的人们提供绰绰有余的空间。但位于温莎城堡内的圣乔治教堂最多只能容纳800人，而且本次王室婚礼较其它婚礼来说并没有太多宪法上的意义，哈里王子目前是英国王位的第五顺位继承人（2018年4月23日剑桥公爵次子出生后，哈里王子成为英王位第六顺位继承人）。

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，这张名单已被废除，来自王室的消息称，只有与这对新人有直接关系的人才会受邀参加婚礼。这样一来，婚礼嘉宾就可能包括奥巴马一家，因为这位美国前总统曾在为受伤退伍军人发起的“不可征服运动会”上与哈里王子认识并成为朋友，但奥巴马一家并未受邀。

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.

在阐明未被邀请的人物及原因的同时，肯辛顿宫发布了婚礼当天受邀进入温莎城堡场地的宾客名单。其中包括社区志愿者、慈善工作者和退伍军人等。

1. 词汇表

figures 人物，人士
dignitaries 显要，要人
the House of Lords 英国国会上议院
constitutional 宪法的
in line to the throne 王位继承人
done away with 被废除、取消
a royal source 一位王室内部人士
military veterans 退伍军人
community volunteers 社区志愿者
charity workers 慈善工作者

2. 阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

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.