三個孩子受洗時都穿同一件衣服也就罷了，不差錢的威廉王子和凱特王妃居然在小兒子洗禮當天請賓客吃七年前的婚禮蛋糕？而且更令人吃驚的是，這個蛋糕在喬治小王子受洗時也吃過，在夏洛特小公主受洗時也吃過。多虧了這項特別的王室傳統，我們才知道原來一個婚禮蛋糕可以吃這么多年。

Britain's Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, carries Prince Louis as they arrive for his christening service at the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, London, Britain, July 9, 2018. [Photo/Agencies]

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge served slices of their wedding fruit cake from seven years ago to guests at Prince Louis' christening.

在路易小王子的洗禮上，劍橋公爵和公爵夫人（威廉王子和凱特王妃）請賓客吃的是七年前他們婚禮上的水果蛋糕。

注：洗禮是基督教的一個重要的儀式，表示洗凈原罪，接受耶穌基督為救主。

A tier of Prince William and Kate's eight-tier wedding cake was served to guests at a private tea at Clarence House following the service at Chapel Royal at St James's Palace Monday.

周一在圣詹姆斯宮皇家禮拜堂舉行的洗禮結束后，賓客們在克拉倫斯王府的私人茶會上享用了威廉王子和凱特王妃婚禮上的八層蛋糕中的一層。

Slices of the couple's wedding cake were also served at both Prince George and Princess Charlotte's christenings, in keeping with tradition.

依照傳統，威廉凱特夫婦的婚禮蛋糕也曾在喬治小王子和夏洛特小公主的洗禮上招待過賓客。

The Duke and Duchess' 3ft-high wedding cake was made by baker Fiona Cairns, and consisted of 17 individual fruit cakes.

威廉凱特婚禮上的蛋糕高3英尺（0.9米），是由糕點師菲奧娜?凱恩斯制作的，包含17塊獨立的水果蛋糕。

The cake is still edible after all these years thanks to the alcohol that it contains, which helps preserve the cake.

過了這么多年，這個蛋糕仍然可以吃，這要歸功于蛋糕中所含的酒精，酒精有助于保存蛋糕。

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盡管如此，為了以防萬一，恐怕賓客們都會“淺嘗輒止”吧。用陳年蛋糕招待賓客，這究竟是一項怎樣的王室傳統呢？

It is traditional for couples to save a tier of their wedding cake for the christening of their first born child, but Kate and William have chosen to so for all three of their children.

按照王室傳統，威廉凱特要留下婚禮蛋糕中的一層用于第一個孩子的洗禮，但威廉和凱特選擇在三個孩子的洗禮上都用婚禮蛋糕招待賓客。

如果只給第一個王室寶貝的洗禮用，婚禮蛋糕只需留下一層即可，但是凱特三個孩子的洗禮都用了，可見當初婚禮蛋糕就留下了好幾層，凱特還真是不負“節儉王妃”的盛名。

The cake was decorated with cream and white icing, and featured 900 individually iced flowers and leaves of 17 different varieties decorated on the cake.

婚禮蛋糕用奶油和白色糖衣來裝飾，點綴了900棵單獨用糖衣包裹的花草，造型多達17種。

據說，光是做這個蛋糕就花了設計師菲奧娜?凱恩斯以及她的團隊共五周的時間，不過能吃上七年（也許還會更久），也算是值了。婚禮當天有一位客人不舍得吃蛋糕，珍藏了三年后把這塊蛋糕拿出來拍賣，最終以7500美元的高價成交。

Along with the tradition of serving their wedding cake at the christening, Kate and William are sticking with tradition by dressing two-month-old Louis in the same christening gown worn by his siblings.

除了遵照在洗禮上請客人吃婚禮蛋糕的傳統，威廉和凱特還讓兩個月大的路易小王子穿他哥哥姐姐穿過的同一件受洗禮服，這也是一項王室傳統。

Britain's Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, carries Prince Louis as they arrive for his christening service at the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, London, Britain, July 9, 2018. [Photo/Agencies]

Louis will be the eighth royal baby to be christened in the Honiton lace and white satin gown that was first used at the christening of James, Viscount Severn in 2008.

路易小王子將是穿著這件霍尼頓花邊白色緞面禮服接受洗禮的第8個王室寶貝，2008年塞文子爵詹姆斯受洗時第一次穿上了這件禮服。

The frilly cream outfit is a replica of the intricate lace and satin christening gown made for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter that was used for all royal baptisms until Lady Louise Windsor's in 2004.

這件鑲褶邊的奶油色禮服仿制了維多利亞女王大女兒的精致蕾絲緞面受洗禮服，當年那件禮服曾用于所有王室寶貝的洗禮，直到2004年路易斯?溫莎郡主最后一次穿著它受洗。

Along with Viscount Severn, Louis older siblings Prince George and Princess Charlotte both wore the gown, as did Lord Frederick Windsor’s daughter Maud and Zara Tindall's little girl, Mia.

除了塞文子爵，路易的哥哥喬治小王子和姐姐夏洛特小公主都曾穿過這件禮服，溫莎公爵弗雷德里克的女兒莫德和薩拉公主的女兒米婭也穿過。

Britain's Prince William carries his son Prince George as they arrive for his son's christening at St James's Palace in London October 23, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

Princess Charlotte is seen inside a pram as she leaves the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, Britain after her christening, July 5, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

除了蛋糕和受洗禮服，洗禮當天最受關注的當然還有夏洛特小公主。夏洛特當天身穿淡藍色碎花連衣裙搭配海藍色小皮鞋，頭上還戴著同色系的蝴蝶結發箍，公主范兒十足。她落落大方地向攝像的人群揮手，和主教“親切”握手。在去參加茶會前，還對拍照的記者們說：“你們不能來。”

Britain's Princess Charlotte and Prince George hold the hands of their father, William, the Duke of Cambridge, as they arrive for the christening of their brother, Prince Louis, who is being carried by their mother, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, at the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, London, Britain, July 9, 2018. [Photo/Agencies]

The little Princess who was walking hand-in-hand with her father Prince William after the service at the Royal Chapel at St James's Palace told waiting photographers: 'You're not coming.'

在圣詹姆斯宮皇家禮拜堂舉行的洗禮結束后，小公主和父親威廉王子手牽手出來，她告訴記者們說：“你們不能來（參加茶會）。”

To make sure her point was understood she kept a watchful eye on the media pack over her shoulder to ensure everyone remained in place.

為了確定自己的意思被聽懂了，她還轉過頭看身后的記者們是否會跟上來。

小小年紀就這么愛操心，還真是有當元首的潛質啊。

哈里王子和新婚妻子梅根、凱特王妃的妹妹皮帕都參加了路易小王子的洗禮，不過英國女王和菲利普親王沒有露面。

英文來源：每日郵報

翻譯&編輯：丹妮