新西兰英语 427 Royal Wedding Stamps

　　New Zealand Post has issued two stamps of Prince William and his fiancée Catherine Middleton.
One is a formal photo where they are standing¹ side by side. He is wearing a jacket and tie. She has her hand on his sleeve. Her hand shows the engagement ring which once belonged to Prince William’s mother, Princess Diana. The ring has a blue sapphire² in the centre and is surrounded by 14 diamonds.
The other stamp is more informal. Prince William has his arm around her. Her hand is on his shoulder. The engagement ring shows up well in this photo also. In this photo, Prince William is wearing a sweater and open neck shirt.
At the bottom of each stamp is written
ROYAL WEDDING,
29 April 2011 NEW ZEALAND
MMXI (Roman numerals for 2011)
Both stamps are $2.40. This is the cost of postage from New Zealand to the UK.
New Zealand is part of the Commonwealth³. The royal family of Britain is also the royal family of New Zealand.
Questions
Do you think this marriage will make people in the Commonwealth countries more interested in royalty⁴ and less interested in becoming a republic?

1 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。

2 sapphire   

n.青玉，蓝宝石；adj.天蓝色的

参考例句：

• Now let us consider crystals such as diamond or sapphire.现在让我们考虑象钻石和蓝宝石这样的晶体。
• He left a sapphire ring to her.他留给她一枚蓝宝石戒指。

3 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。

4 royalty   

n.皇家，皇族

参考例句：

• She claims to be descended from royalty.她声称她是皇室后裔。
• I waited on tables，and even catered to royalty at the Royal Albert Hall.我做过服务生， 甚至在皇家阿伯特大厅侍奉过皇室的人。