考研英语阅读篇章英国庆祝女王八十八岁生日

　　篇章：英国庆祝女王88岁生日

　　More than 1,000 soldiers took part in the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony to mark the Queen s official birthday.

　　Thousands of spectators also watched the annual meticulous display of army drill, music and horsemanship.

　　The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh rode in a vintage carriage from Buckingham Palace, along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade

　　where the event was staged.

　　As part of the ceremony there was also be an RAF flypast watched by the Royal Family from the palace balcony.

　　The Red Arrows were a highlight of the flypast as they flew over the palace emitting red, blue and white smoke.

　　The military parade dates back to preparations for battle, when colours would be carried or trooped down the rank so they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers.

　　The Duchess of Cambridge, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry travelled together in another coach, and the Duke of York, Princess Eugenie, Earl and Countess of Wessex, Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra were in the final carriage.

　　The Prince of Wales and Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, took part in the parade on horseback.

　　A Sovereign s Escort was provided for the procession by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, who wore silver and gold breastplates and plumed helmets.

　　The colour paraded on Horse Guards this year was the flag of Nijmegen Company, Grenadier Guards.

　　It is the first time since 2005 that the Grenadiers have not been on operations in Afghanistan, about to deploy to the country or recently returned from Helmand Province.

　　After the parade, the King s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired a 41-gun salute in Green Park to mark the Queen s official birthday.

　　The Queen wore a powder blue dress designed by Angela Kelly. Her actual birthday was on 21 April, when she turned 88.

　　14日，英国举行女王88岁生日庆祝仪式，每年6月的第二个星期六是英国女王伊莉莎白二世的官方生日，同时也是英国的国庆日。女王的真正生日是1926年4月21日，官方庆祝仪式定在6月是因为伦敦6月中旬的天气比较好。

　　在庆祝仪式上，女王的丈夫爱丁堡公爵陪伴女王乘坐在复古马车上，从白金汉宫前往庆典的进行场地皇家骑兵卫队阅兵场。在奏响英国国歌 《天佑女王》 后，女王亲自检阅军旗敬礼分列式。