William, Kate Spark Comparison to Charles

     Prince William and Catherine Middleton's big wedding day is just hours away. And while people around the world prepare to toast to their future, some are also drawn² to that other happy day nearly 30 years ago when William's parents, Prince Charles and Princess Diana said, I do.

    It is a modern-day fairy tale, with Kate Middleton soon to wed¹ her prince, just as Lady Diana Spencer did nearly three decades ago.

    Middleton is the daughter of self-made millionaires and a descendent³ of coal miners. But despite the hype about her middle class background, British history professor Julie Taddeo says Middleton, and Prince William's aristocratic mother, Diana, have more in common than you might think.

    "A lot of people have said, 'Oh, he’s marrying a commoner.' Diana technically⁵ was a commoner," noted⁶ Taddeo. "To be a commoner means that you are not royal. So you could be an aristocrat⁴ and still be a commoner."Prince Charles and Princess Diana (official portrait 1985)Prince Charles and Diana Spencer married at St. Paul's Cathedral. Prince William and Middleton will marry at the smaller Westminster Abbey.

    On Prince Charles's big day, his bride arrived at their church of choice in the traditional horse-drawn glass coach. The prince and princess again followed tradition by leaving the church in an open carriage.

    Middleton, on the other hand, will break with centuries of tradition by traveling to Westminster Abbey in a limousine⁷. But the tradition-breaking stops there.

    "She’s exiting in that royal carriage because then she’ll truly become a royal. I think that’s an important statement," Taddeo said.

    EngagementPrince William's parents had only 13 meetings before their awkward engagement.

    "Are you in love?" a reporter asked Princess Diana.

    "Of course," the princess replied.

    "Whatever 'In love' means," quipped Prince Charles.

    In contrast, time has strengthened the bond between Prince William and his fiancee, a couple that Taddeo says is poised⁸ and prepared.

    "This couple, they’ve basically known each other for over eight years. I don’t think after eight years there’s that many surprises left!" noted the professor.

    Public interestMany Britons find the royal romances fun and entertaining, but Taddeo says the famous family means more than mere⁹ amusement to the country.

    "They have huge social significance and this is the one thing that has not changed," Taddeo explained,  "and really shouldn’t change. And in an increasingly diverse society, you need something that holds people together."More than 750 million people around the world watched Prince Charles and Diana Spencer tie the knot, and about two billion are expected to watch Friday's celebration.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 wed   

v.娶，嫁，与…结婚

参考例句：

• The couple eventually wed after three year engagement.这对夫妇在订婚三年后终于结婚了。
• The prince was very determined to wed one of the king's daughters.王子下定决心要娶国王的其中一位女儿。

2 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

3 descendent   

adj. 下降的, 降落的, 世袭的 n. 后代，子孙 =descendant

参考例句：

• With no direct descendent, who will succeed to the title? 没有直系后裔，谁来继承爵位呢？
• He is a descendent of Queen Victoria. 他是维多利亚女王的后代。

4 aristocrat   

n.贵族，有贵族气派的人，上层人物

参考例句：

• He was the quintessential english aristocrat.他是典型的英国贵族。
• He is an aristocrat to the very marrow of his bones.他是一个道道地地的贵族。

5 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 limousine   

n.豪华轿车

参考例句：

• A chauffeur opened the door of the limousine for the grand lady.司机为这个高贵的女士打开了豪华轿车的车门。
• We arrived in fine style in a hired limousine.我们很气派地乘坐出租的豪华汽车到达那里。

8 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

9 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。