A Busy Time for the Royals . . .
VOCABULARY
The last few months have been rather quiet for the British royal family and Queen Elizabeth II must welcome that. But that is all about to change this weekend. First and foremost, the Queen will celebrate her actual birthday on Saturday, 21 April. This is usually a quiet affair, which she prefers to spend privately with her family. However, the occasion is marked publicly by gun salutes in central London, at midday: a 41-gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21-gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London – just in case anyone forgets.
The Queen’s Birthday Party, which will take place in the evening and is a celebration of her links with the Commonwealth, might not be such a treat for her. She will attend a concert in the Royal Albert Hall, with her family, and be entertained by Sir Tom Jones, Kylie Minogue, Sting and the rapper, Shaggy. I am not sure that she will be amused, as this music is definitely not her cup of tea, but she will surely put on a smile anyway. It is not sure if Prince Philip, 96, will accompany his wife, as he is still recovering from a hip operation.
As most people know, the Queen’s official birthday is celebrated on the second Saturday in June, when there is a greater likelihood of good weather for the Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour. This military procession, with 1400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians, has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years. I have only joined the flag-waving crowds on The Mall once. It was a sight for sore eyes as the Horse Guards marched by, wearing the ceremonial red tunics and bearskin hats.
However, we really needn’t have worried about the weather this weekend as Britain is going to "swelter" in temperatures of up to 25 degrees, according to meteorologists. The Brits are so proud of this "mini-heat wave" that the newspapers are already saying that Britain will be hotter than Ibiza or Mallorca and are warning people to slap on the sun cream. I can’t say that I have ever heard this warning in Austria, but it happens so seldom in England.
The second event, that could take place this weekend, is the birth of the Queen’s sixth great-grandchild – now that would be a wonderful birthday present, wouldn’t it? As the Duchess of Cambridge, or Kate as we fondly call her, enters the final few days of her third pregnancy, crowds of well-wishers are already gathering outside the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital where she gave birth to Prince George, 6, and Princess Charlotte, 2. Kensington Palace has announced that Kate’s due date is at the end of April, but many people think that she will go into labour on 23 April, which is St. George’s Day.
Finally, beyond a shadow of a doubt, Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle will be one of the major events of the year. The couple will tie the knot on Saturday, 19 May, at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, where Prince Harry was christened. With just a few weeks to go before the big day the couple, who announced their engagement in November, have said that they are planning a wedding that will be focused on fun, joy and a chance to celebrate with family, a big circle of friends and the public. However, they also plan to keep to centuries-old tradition as they take their vows before the Queen and 600 invited guests from different charities.
Yes, Queen Elizabeth II has a lot on her plate at the moment and she still manages to look fit and healthy. An amazing achievement for someone much younger, let alone for a 92-year-old lady. first and foremost – zuallererst the actual birthday – der tatsächliche Geburtstag a quiet affair – eine ruhige Angelegenheit to spend – verbringen to mark sth. – etw. begehen gun salutes – Salutschüsse just in case – für den Fall to take place – stattfinden links with – Verbindungen mit not such a treat – kein Vergnügen not her cup of tea – nicht ihr Ding to accompany – begleiten to recover – sich erholen hip operation – Hüftoperation a greater likelihood – eine größere Wahrscheinlichkeit to join sbd. – sich jmd. anschließen once – einmal a sight for sore eyes – eine Augenweide bearskin hats – Bärenfellmützen to worry – sich sorgen to swelter – vor Hitze vergehen according to – laut to slap on – dick auftragen fondly – liebevoll pregnancy – Schwangerschaft well-wishers – Gratulanten to gather – sich versammeln due date – erwarteter Geburtstermin to go into labour – die Wehen bekommen beyond a shadow of a doubt – ohne jeden Zweifel to tie the knot – heiraten to be christened – getauft werden engagement – Verlobung to take vows – Gelübde ablegen a lot on her plate – viel vor sich achievement – Leistung let alone – geschweige denn