英女王访美礼仪招待忙煞“牛仔”布什-英语点津

英国女王伊丽莎白二世5月3日开始访问美国。结束在美国其他城市的一系列活动后，女王7日抵达白宫，迎来访美期间的最重要活动——美国总统布什夫妇为她举办的国宴。布什一反常态换下得州牛仔，打上白领结、西装革履迎接女王。据了解，这是布什担任总统6年来第五次为他国元首举行国宴，也是布什第一次愿意在国宴中身穿燕尾服。

President Bush toasts with Queen Elizabeth II, left, during a State Dinner at the White House on Monday, May 7, 2007 in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

It was queen's weather for Queen Elizabeth II on Monday at the White House, where President Bush welcomed her under brilliant skies with a colorful pageant of ruffles and flourishes — and even a little joke.

The band played the national anthems, the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps in revolutionary-era uniforms piped British Grenadiers, the 21 guns saluted, the troops marched, and 7,000 onlookers on the South Lawn cheered, clapped and waved littleUnion Jacksand American flags for the arrival ceremony, a White House tradition for heads of state but especially fervent this time in honor of the sovereign of America's closest ally in the Iraq war.

In his welcoming remarks, Bush underlined that point.

"Today our two nations are defending liberty against tyranny and terror," he said. "American and British forces are staying on the offense against the extremists and terrorists. … Your Majesty, I appreciate your leadership during these times of danger and decision."

A white-tie state dinner — Bush's first — for 134 is Monday night, with entertainment by violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman. For thestate dinner, Mrs. Bush will be wearing an embroidered aqua gown with a bolero by Oscar de la Renta. The queen's attire has not been released but it likely won't be by a famous fashion designer (the queen has her own dressmakers). Of more interest, especially to scruffy reporters, is what jewels she will wear.

Bush is known to disdainfancy dressand staying up late but relented for the queen. "We did sort of have to convince him a little bit" to opt for white-tie, Laura Bush said Monday of her efforts along with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to talk Bush into agreeing to the most formal dress code, especially favored by the British.

On Tuesday, the Bushes will go to the British Embassy to dine with the queen and the duke at another formal dinner.

The royal couple arrived in Washington on Sunday night, after visiting Jamestown, Va., to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first permanent English settlement in North America, and Louisville for the Kentucky Derby over the weekend.

（Agencies）

Vocabulary:

Union Jacks：英国国旗

state dinner：国宴

fancy dress：高档、正式的服装，此指“燕尾服”

（英语点津陈蓓编辑）