美国国家公共电台 NPR--Britain and the world say goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II with a state funeral

Britain and the world say goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II with a state funeral

Transcript¹

Nearly 2,000 people crowded Westminster Abbey for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. A long procession through London carried her coffin² to a final resting place at Windsor Castle, 25 miles away.

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Nearly 2,000 people crowded into Westminster Abbey this morning for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The archbishop of Canterbury, Reverend Justin Welby, spoke³ about the queen's life of duty and service and a pledge she made as a young woman.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

JUSTIN WELBY: Her late majesty⁴ famously declared on her 21st birthday broadcast that her whole life would be dedicated⁵ to serving the nation and commonwealth⁶. Rarely has such a promise been so well kept.

MARTIN: The dean of Westminster, Reverend David Hoyle, also reflected on the queen's devotion to her family and her country.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

DAVID HOYLE: With gratitude⁷, we remember her unswerving commitment to a high calling over so many years as queen and head of the Commonwealth. With admiration⁸, we recall her lifelong sense of duty and dedication⁹ to her people.

MARTIN: I'm here with NPR's London correspondent Frank Langfitt. Frank, you and I have been watching the ceremonies all morning long, the funeral itself and the procession afterwards, as the queen's family walked in silence behind the gun carriage carrying the queen's casket. So much focus on her eldest¹⁰ son, who assumes her place as monarch¹¹. How has King Charles navigated¹² the days since the queen's passing?

FRANK LANGFITT, BYLINE¹³: It's been really interesting to watch, Rachel. I saw him walk up the Royal Mile last week. This is in Edinburgh, the gothic part of Edinburgh. And he was clearly - I was about 10 feet from him, and he was clearly grief stricken. And he also - I'll tell you, he looked like an older man, which is what he is, 73, but he also seemed weighed down. He was wearing his military regalia. And he looked tired and, you know, really sad.

Now, since then, he has gone out to other parts of the United Kingdom and basically been meeting lots of people and shaking hands and thanking them. So he was out in front of Buckingham Palace. He was also - you know, we had this long line here down the south bank of the Thames, five miles, to see the queen's casket. And he came out and with Prince William as well. And so there's also a sense now that this is a transition that's occurred, and he's now trying to really reach out to people and try to really connect with them as the new monarch of the United Kingdom.

MARTIN: Because he has some challenges to face right now.

LANGFITT: Yeah, he really does. I mean, you've got to remember, the queen - it's very interesting. The queen was more popular than the monarchy¹⁴. There are people who would say that they were Elizabethans rather than monarchists.

MARTIN: They separated Queen Elizabeth from the institution.

LANGFITT: Yeah. No, I mean, this is fundamental to understanding how the monarchy works here. King Charles III is a different kettle of fish. He's - he doesn't have anywhere near the popularity for a variety of reasons, but some going all the way back to his divorce and the way he was seen to be treating his wife, his first wife, Princess Diana, and that has really stuck with him. One of the challenges he faces is his mother, as you were mentioning earlier, really focused on service. What is - how is he going to define his monarchy? One thing, people say, is the environment. It's an issue he was - as a young man, he was out in front on. And maybe that's a way for him to be relevant to a younger group of people here in the United Kingdom.

MARTIN: We haven't mentioned it yet today, but it's important to note this is a family who have been beset¹⁶ by scandal. You mentioned not just the tragedy of Diana's death, but family fissures¹⁷ made plain today.

LANGFITT: Yeah. Well, a lot of stuff. I mean, if you think about Prince Andrew, he was - you know, he was stripped of his royal duties because of a scandal involving Jeffrey Epstein and charges that he denied, the prince denied, of having sex with a girl who was underage. But he ended up having to walk in both of the processions without his military regalia, and it looked like he was being shamed. But then when it came time to come into Westminster Hall to be with the coffin, he was able to wear his military regalia because of the permission of his brother, King Charles III.

MARTIN: And now it will be upon King Charles to project the family and the monarchy into the future. The proceedings¹⁸ have been taking place here in London, but, of course, people around the country are mourning today, watching from a distance. NPR's Philip Reeves is in a public square in Newcastle upon Tyne, a city in the northern part of the country. Phil, tell me exactly what you're seeing, what you've been hearing from folks.

PHILIP REEVES, BYLINE: Well, in front of me, for the last couple of hours, there's been a crowd of people standing¹⁵ here beside a war memorial in the public square. I apologize for the background noise. The cleaning guy has just arrived in his van.

MARTIN: Of course.

REEVES: But until now, they've been standing - yeah, and standing in silence. It's been very touching¹⁹ to see, actually, young people, old - the old, multiethnic crowd, some old soldiers and medals, mostly standing, during the service itself, stock-still and in silence. But they are now beginning to disperse²⁰ and beginning to relax. And there've been scenes like this around the country. And - because there've been big screens set up in other cities as well. Cinemas, movie theaters have also been showing the funeral. And in pubs, people have been able to gather there to watch it, to gain some kind of collective comfort, I think, because I think Britons are - this is the final line, in a way, in what's been a quite painful few days for them.

Listen to Megan Montgomery (ph). She's 25. She was in the crowd this morning, and she's from Belfast in Northern Ireland.

MEGAN MONTGOMERY: It is just nice to see how many people it impacts. And I think it gives a bit of closure for everyone, obviously, because, you know, after she died. And it's been 10 days since. So it's been a long process, it feels, you know? So it's nice for it to come to a close in a nice way that everyone can share together.

MARTIN: Have you heard that reflected in other parts of the country? 'Cause you've been traveling around, Phil.

REEVES: Yeah, I mean, it depends who you speak with, I mean, that - you know, admit that there are people, quite a few people, who in the last few days have, you know, come up and said that they do not support the royal family, or if they do support the monarchy, they think it's too large, it should be diminished and are worried about the amount of money being spent on it. And I've met them here in Newcastle, which is pretty much a royalist town. But they've been very respectful in offering those views.

And the majority of people I've spoken to have been very strongly admiring of the queen and are great fans, seeing her as a sort of source of stability in turbulent times. Sometimes they talk about it - 'cause I'm fascinated as to what drives this - in a kind of quasi-religious way. A lot of people say she's everyone's granny. And of course, the military here would say, well, she was their commander in chief. They took an oath of allegiance, and that's why they're loyal to her.

MARTIN: I think we have a clip of someone you spoke with, Christopher James (ph), a former gunner with the Royal Air Force Regiment²¹. Let's listen to what he had to say.

CHRISTOPHER JAMES: When I joined, I gave an allegiance to the queen. My allegiance still stands. It also transfers to the king. She's a great ambassador for not just the forces but for the whole of England. I think everywhere in the world knows that.

MARTIN: Christopher James speaking to our NPR's Phil Reeves. Phil, thank you for...

REEVES: You're welcome.

MARTIN: ...Sharing those reflections with us from Newcastle upon Tyne, a city in the north of England. We're going to turn now to NPR's Lauren Frayer because the perspectives that you bring us from India, where you are based, Lauren, are very important on this day. India was once known as the jewel in the crown of the British Empire. It's been 75 years since India cast off British colonial rule. Attitudes have changed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India not attending the services today. I want to talk about that. But first, just give me a sense of the reflections you've collected from folks.

LAUREN FRAYER, BYLINE: Yeah, it's remarkably²² different here. There are no get-togethers to watch the funeral here. There are no screenings at cinemas and in public squares, like the one Phil Reeves is in. Britain and its royals are really an afterthought in India. They're not even in the tabloids²³. We've got Bollywood stars for that. I've been talking to folks at the old Victoria Terminus. It's a train station that used to be named for the U.K.'s Queen Victoria. And here's an accountant I met there, Richa Mahapatra (ph). I asked her what she thinks of the queen's death.

RICHA MAHAPATRA: I do not think anything, actually. I did not have any, like, sort of lot of respect for her or anything. So yeah, it didn't make any change for me, frankly²⁴ speaking.

FRAYER: So, you know, the West may be following this funeral closely, but a huge bulk of the world's population, maybe even a majority, especially in countries like India, where I am that used to be a British colony, a lot of folk see the queen as a relic²⁵ of an antiquated²⁶, exploitative past.

MARTIN: OK, so, Lauren, the prime minister is one of the few global leaders who did not attend today's funeral. I mean, his absence carries symbolism, does it not?

FRAYER: It does. India's ceremonial president, Droupadi Murmu, is attending instead of Modi. She is India's head of state. The queen was her counterpart. So that's sort of the protocol²⁷ there. But she's also an Adivasi woman, a member of one of India's Indigenous²⁸ tribes. Now, Modi, on the day that the queen died, happened to be giving a fiery²⁹ anti-colonial speech. He was renaming a street named after Queen Elizabeth's grandfather.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: (Non-English language spoken).

FRAYER: "It was a symbol of our slavery under British rule," Modi said. And he later tweeted condolences for the queen and declared a day of national mourning. But, you know, last week, Modi was at a security summit with Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping. He has skipped a chance to meet President Biden in London. He's skipping the U.N. General Assembly in New York next week. There's a danger of reading too much into these things, but it also could be an indication of, you know, who Modi thinks is important these days.

MARTIN: So explain, Lauren, how does British colonial rule - how is it reflected in everyday life in India, if at all, anymore?

FRAYER: Well, India is the most populous³⁰ country in the Commonwealth. And the Commonwealth is still relevant for sporting competitions, for diplomacy³¹. But, you know, it was more relevant during the Cold War as sort of a tool of Britain's soft power. India did not retain the monarch, the British monarch, as the head of its state. Barbados, another former British colony, recently became a republic. And there are a handful of other countries, former British colonies, who are considering the same.

MARTIN: NPR's India correspondent Lauren Frayer in Mumbai. We also heard from NPR's Frank Langfitt here in London and NPR's Phil Reeves in the north of England. Thanks to all three of you.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 majesty   

n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权

参考例句：

• The king had unspeakable majesty.国王有无法形容的威严。
• Your Majesty must make up your mind quickly!尊贵的陛下，您必须赶快做出决定！

5 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

6 commonwealth   

n.共和国，联邦，共同体

参考例句：

• He is the chairman of the commonwealth of artists.他是艺术家协会的主席。
• Most of the members of the Commonwealth are nonwhite.英联邦的许多成员国不是白人国家。

7 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

8 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

9 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

10 eldest   

adj.最年长的，最年老的

参考例句：

• The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。
• The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。

11 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

12 navigated   

v.给（船舶、飞机等）引航，导航( navigate的过去式和过去分词 )；（从海上、空中等）横越；横渡；飞跃

参考例句：

• He navigated the plane through the clouds. 他驾驶飞机穿越云层。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The ship was navigated by the North Star. 那只船靠北极星来导航。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

14 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。

15 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

16 beset   

v.镶嵌；困扰，包围

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• The plan was beset with difficulties from the beginning.这项计划自开始就困难重重。

17 fissures   

n.狭长裂缝或裂隙( fissure的名词复数 )；裂伤；分歧；分裂v.裂开( fissure的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Rising molten rock flows out on the ocean floor and caps the fissures, trapping the water. 上升熔岩流到海底并堵住了裂隙，结果把海水封在里面。 来自辞典例句
• The French have held two colloquia and an international symposium on rock fissures. 法国已经开了两次岩石裂缝方面的报告会和一个国际会议。 来自辞典例句

18 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

19 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

20 disperse   

vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散

参考例句：

• The cattle were swinging their tails to disperse the flies.那些牛甩动着尾巴驱赶苍蝇。
• The children disperse for the holidays.孩子们放假了。

21 regiment   

n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制

参考例句：

• As he hated army life,he decide to desert his regiment.因为他嫌恶军队生活，所以他决心背弃自己所在的那个团。
• They reformed a division into a regiment.他们将一个师整编成为一个团。

22 remarkably   

ad.不同寻常地，相当地

参考例句：

• I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
• He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。

23 tabloids   

n.小报，通俗小报（版面通常比大报小一半，文章短，图片多，经常报道名人佚事）( tabloid的名词复数 )；药片

参考例句：

• The story was on the front pages of all the tabloids. 所有小报都在头版报道了这件事。
• The story made the front page in all the tabloids. 这件事成了所有小报的头版新闻。

24 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

25 relic   

n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物

参考例句：

• This stone axe is a relic of ancient times.这石斧是古代的遗物。
• He found himself thinking of the man as a relic from the past.他把这个男人看成是过去时代的人物。

26 antiquated   

adj.陈旧的，过时的

参考例句：

• Many factories are so antiquated they are not worth saving.很多工厂过于陈旧落后，已不值得挽救。
• A train of antiquated coaches was waiting for us at the siding.一列陈旧的火车在侧线上等着我们。

27 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

28 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

29 fiery   

adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的

参考例句：

• She has fiery red hair.她有一头火红的头发。
• His fiery speech agitated the crowd.他热情洋溢的讲话激动了群众。

30 populous   

adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的

参考例句：

• London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
• China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。

31 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。