NBC晚间新闻 女王只想要孩子快快降生

Boy or girl, the Queen just hopes baby ‘arrives soon’

女王只想要孩子快快降生

The baby Kate is carrying will shape the future of the monarchy¹, with new rules of succession² replacing the old. NBC’s Kate Snow reports.

凯特肚子里的孩子将决定君主制的未来，继任新规则将会取代旧规则。NBC的Kate Snow发回报道。

In Great Britain, the expectations are getting greater by the hour, as the world anticipates the birth of the royal baby, pretty much any time now. Even the queen herself had something to say about the timing³. NBC's Kate Snow is in London tonight , watching and waiting, along with everybody else. And kate , I understand that is the hospital behind you where we will know something at some point.

reporter: It is, Brian . And about all we know right now is that at some point, Kate Middleton , the duchess of Cambridge, will come to this hospital and give birth to a baby. What we don't know is where she and the prince are at this hour, or, indeed, her exact due date. And even the Queen is getting anxious. in northern England this morning, 10-year-old child asked the Queen an important question.

I asked her whether she would like the baby to be a boy or girl .

reporter: the Queen's reply?

I'm going on holiday.

reporter: She is headed to Scotland next week. The baby will be Diana's grandchild, but if it were born today it would share a birthday with Prince Charles ' second wife, Camilla, now 66. She said Monday she was hoping for a birth by the end of the week.

All waiting.

reporter: We last saw Prince William at a polo match on sunday. Kate has been out of sight since mid-June. The baby she is carrying will shape the future of the monarchy.

This is the dawning of a new era for the House of Windsor, a magical new time for the royal family .

reporter: With new rules of succession replacing the old.

Completely sexist, age-old law dating back to the 18th century dictating⁴ that a first-born daughter can't take the throne if succeeded by a second-born son. That's all been scrapped⁵.

reporter: Queen Elizabeth herself wouldn't be keep at all if she had had a brother, but this baby, boy or girl , will be in line to the throne after grandpa and dad, of course. Here in London, even the tourists are hoping kate hurries.

I'm here until tomorrow night. So, she needs to have it today.

reporter: But as every mother knows, babies have their own schedule. And once this baby is born, someone will race out here around go over to Buckingham Palace two miles away with a bulletin⁶ for the public to put up the notice about the gender⁷, the time of birth, the weight of the baby, and we expect, Brian , because this is such a modern monarchy now, they will also post all those details on twitter around facebook. Brian ?

Kate Snow in London who be among the first to know. Kate , thanks. We will be looking for you.

1 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

2 succession   

n.连续，一连串，一系列；v.接替，继任

参考例句：

• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
• His succession as headmaster was not in any doubt.他继任校长是确定无疑的。

3 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

4 dictating   

v.大声讲或读( dictate的现在分词 )；口授；支配；摆布

参考例句：

• The manager was dictating a letter to the secretary. 经理在向秘书口授信稿。 来自辞典例句
• Her face is impassive as she listens to Miller dictating the warrant for her arrest. 她毫无表情地在听米勒口述拘留她的证书。 来自辞典例句

5 scrapped   

废弃(scrap的过去式与过去分词)； 打架

参考例句：

• This machine is so old that it will soon have to be scrapped. 这架机器太旧，快报废了。
• It had been thought that passport controls would be scrapped. 人们曾认为会放开护照管制。

6 bulletin   

n.小报，会刊，简明新闻，新闻快报

参考例句：

• We read the declaration posted on the bulletin board.我们读了贴在布告板上的声明。
• The radio bulletin warned of the typhoon.收音机新闻快报发布了台风警报。

7 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。