英国女王 | 2019年圣诞致辞

As a child, I never imagined that one day, a man would walk on the moon. Yet this year, we marked the fiftieth anniversary of the famous Apollo 11 mission. [It’s still looking very good. You’re go.] As those historic pictures were beamed backed to earth, millions of us sat transfixed to our television screens, as we watched Neil Armstrong taking a small step for man and a giant leap for mankind and, indeed, for womankind. It’s a reminder for us all that giant leaps often start with small steps.

小时候，我从未想象过，有朝一日人类能在月球漫步。但是今年，已经是著名的阿波罗11号登月50周年。（状况良好，准备出发。登月舱鹰号着陆成功。）当这些注定载入史册的珍贵照片传回地球时，数百万人目不转睛地静坐在电视屏幕前，看着尼尔·阿姆斯特朗迈出了那一步——“个人的一小步，人类的一大步”，对男性如此，对女性亦是如此。这也让我们所有人铭记，飞跃总是从每一小步开始的。

This year, we marked another important anniversary: D-Day. On 6th June 1944, some one hundred and fifty-six thousand British, Canadian and American forces landed in Northern France. It was the largest ever seaborne invasion and was delayed due to bad weather. I well remember the look of concern on my father’s face. He knew the secret D-Day plans but could of course share that burden with no-one.

今年，我们还庆祝了另外一个重要的纪念日——诺曼底登陆日。1944年6月6日，约有15万6千名英国，加拿大及美国军人在法国北部海岸登陆。这是有史以来最大的一次海滩登陆作战，但由于当时恶劣的天气而推迟。我非常清楚地记得地记得我父亲脸上担忧的神情，他知道诺曼底登陆的秘密计划，但明显不能与任何人分担这沉重的压力。

For the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of that decisive battle, in a true spirit of reconciliation, those who had formerly been sworn enemies came together in friendly commemorations either side of the Channel, putting past differences behind them.

在这场决定性战役结束75周年之际，本着真正的和解精神，那些曾经视彼此为死敌的人，从海峡两岸远道而来，聚在一起举行友好的纪念活动，将过去的分歧抛在脑后。

Such reconciliation seldom happens overnight. It takes patience and time to rebuild trust, and progress often comes through small steps. Since the end of the Second World War, many charities, groups and organisations have worked to promote peace and unity around the world, bringing together those who have been on opposing sides. By being willing to put past differences behind us and move forward together, we honour the freedom and democracy once won for us at so great a cost.

这种和解很少在一夜之间实现，重新和解需要耐心和时间，而信任往往是通过点滴的进步实现的。自第二次世界大战结束以来，许多慈善机构，团体和组织致力于促进世界各地的和平与团结，把那些曾经对立的人团结在一起。我们愿意将过去的分歧抛诸脑后，共同前进，以此来纪念我们付出巨大的代价才换来的自由和民主。

The challenges many people face today may be different to those once faced by my generation, but I have been struck by how new generations have brought a similar sense of purpose to issues such as protecting our environment and our climate.

但今天许多人面临的挑战，可能与我们这代人所面临的挑战不同。但令我吃惊的是，新一代人在环境和气候等问题上表现出了类似的强烈使命感。

My family and I are also inspired by the men and women of our emergency services and Armed Forces; and at Christmas, we remember all those on duty at home and abroad, who are helping those in need and keeping us and our families safe and secure.

我和我的家人也深受国家急救部门和武装部队的人们所鼓舞。在圣诞节之际，我们感谢所有在国内外值守的人，他们正在帮助那些需要帮助的人，使我们和我们的家人安全无虞。

Two hundred years on from the birth of my great, great grandmother, Queen Victoria, Prince Philip and I have been delighted to welcome our eighth great grandchild into our family. Of course, at the heart of the Christmas story lies the birth of a child: a seemingly small and insignificant step overlooked by many in Bethlehem.

在我的曾曾曾祖母维多利亚女王出生200周年之际，菲利普亲王和我很高兴地迎来了皇室的第八位重孙。就像圣诞节故事的核心是基于耶稣的降生，这看似微不足道的一步，却被伯利恒的许多人忽略了。

But in time, through his teaching and by his example, Jesus Christ would show the world how small steps taken in faith and in hope can overcome long-held differences and deep-seated divisions to bring harmony and understanding. Many of us already try to follow in his footsteps. The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference.

但随着时间的推移，通过教化和以身作则，耶稣基督会向世人展示在信仰和希望前的一小步，能够克服长久以来的分歧和根深蒂固的矛盾，并带来和谐和理解。我们当中的许多人已经试着追随他的脚步，当然这条路并非一帆风顺。今年有些时候可能会感到非常坎坷，但脚踏实地的每一步就能带来天壤之别。

As Christmas dawned, church congregations around the world joined in singing It Came Upon the Midnight Clear. Like many timeless carols, it speaks not just of the coming of Jesus Christ into a divided world, many years ago, but also of the relevance, even today, of the angels’message of peace and goodwill.

在圣诞节来临之际，世界各地的教会都加入了吟唱《圣诞夜歌》的行列，就像许多经久不衰的颂歌一样，它不仅讲述了许多年前耶稣基督来到一个充满分歧的世界，那也是天使们传递和平与善意的信息直到今天。

It’s a timely reminder of what positive things can be achieved when people set aside past differences and come together in the spirit of friendship and reconciliation. And, as we all look forward to the start of a new decade, it’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change.

这是个很及时的提醒，当人们抛开过去的分歧，本着友谊和和解的精神鼓舞团结一致时会取得哪些积极的成果。当我们都期待着新的十年的开始时，值得铭记的是，往往是每一小步，而不是大的飞跃带来了最持久的变化。

And so, I wish you all a very happy Christmas.

最后，我祝大家圣诞节快乐！