Windsor Castle is Christmas ready.

温莎城堡已经准备好过圣诞节了。

 

Its trees are decorated. Its grand state rooms dressed. And this year the castle is taking visitors back 80 years, to the days when a pair of teenage girls who lived here tried to lift spirits during the Christmases of the Second World War.

城堡内的圣诞树已经装饰好，谒见厅装点一新。今年，城堡把参观者带回80年前：在二战的圣诞节期间，住在这里的两个十几岁的女孩想做点振奋人心的事情。

 

Princess Elizabeth, as she was then, and her sister Princess Margaret, created an annual royal pantomime.

当时的伊丽莎白公主和她的妹妹玛格丽特公主创立了一年一度的王室童话剧演出。

 

For the first time some of their costumes have come out of the archive and are on display.

这是首次把当时的一些演出服从档案馆中取出来展出。

 

The two princesses were always the star performers. The shows were staged in this room – the Waterloo Chamber¹. The audience was castle staff, the local school, troops and the King and Queen. Money from tickets sold was used to make blankets for soldiers on the front line.

两位公主一直都是明星表演者。演出是在这个名为 “滑铁卢厅” 的房间里举行的。观众包括城堡工作人员、当地学校、军队以及国王和王后。卖票所获的收益被用来给前线士兵做毯子。

 

Daniella Ralph, BBC correspondent

I know they were here in the grand surroundings of Windsor Castle, but here there is something quite ordinary about putting on a show for your family and your friends.

丹妮艾拉·拉尔夫       BBC通讯员

“虽然置身于辉煌华丽的温莎城堡，但在这里为亲朋好友上演一出戏，可以说是相当接地气。”

 

Caroline de Guitaut, curator, Royal Collection Trust

Yes, ordinary up to a point. I mean, they were supported by sound technicians that came specially² from the BBC, you know, special set designers, but that was very much blended with that kind of homemade element too. So, whilst the performances were, you know, looked very grand and very beautiful, there was very much a kind of homegrown spirit to it all.

卡罗兰·德·吉托特       皇家收藏信托基金会策展人

“是的，确实挺接地气的。虽然有专门从 BBC 过来帮忙的音响技术人员，还有专门的布景设计师，但还是融入了特有的家庭自导自演元素。所以，虽然表演看起来非常精美华丽，但依然是洋溢着一种家庭气息。”

 

The pantos also showed the strong sibling³ bond. Onstage in costume, Elizabeth and Margaret were a formidable partnership⁴. And privately⁵, these royal sisters were a vital support for one another.

童话剧也表现出了浓浓的姐妹情。穿着戏服在台上表演时，伊丽莎白和玛格丽特是一对了不起的搭档。私下里，这对王室姐妹彼此相互支持，亲密无间。

 

They were often away from their parents – having moved out of London during the war.

由于在战争期间搬离伦敦，她们的父母总是不在身边。

 

As the Queen heads into her 70th year on the throne, the panto display is a reminder⁶ of Christmases here at the castle during a unique time in her life – before she had taken on the responsibilities of monarch⁷.

女王登基在位70周年来临之际，这次童话剧服装展勾起了对温莎城堡圣诞节的记忆，那是她人生中一段独特的时期，就在她承担起君主的重任前。

 

It is a snapshot of a royal childhood – of how Christmas at the castle, tried to bring some festive⁸ cheer to the dark days of war.

这是对王室童年记忆的一瞥，回望当年城堡中的圣诞节如何试图在战争的阴霾下带来一丝欢乐的节日气氛。

点击收听单词发音