Her favourite grandson, Prince Charles, called her “the most wonderful example of fun．” She enjoyed gin and Dubonnet2, as well as champagne3, planned official engagements round the horse－racing calendar and expressed an ambition4 to become Britain＇s oldest woman．
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother of Britain died on March 30, just a little over four months short of her 102nd birthday.
Lady5 Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Boews-Lyon was born in 1900, when Queen Victoria was still living. Her family was descended6 from the royal house of Scotland. In 1923 Elizabeth married Bertie, the second son of George Ⅴ. At first, she turned down7 the shy man, unsure whether she wanted to marry into the duties of the royal house.
Her first daughter, born in 1926, was also named Elizabeth, who is now the reigning8 queen. The second daughter, Margaret, came four years later.
In 1936, George V died, and his first son became the king Edward Ⅷ who, however, abdicated9 soon afterwards because he wanted to marry a divorced10 American woman Mrs. Simpson. Bertie ascended the throne11 as George Ⅵ, and was crowned12 with Elizabeth at his side the following year.
At the outbreak of World War Ⅱ in 1939, the queen refused to leave England for safety. She and the young princesses stayed in London to share the dangers instead of being shipped off to Canada. This earned her respect and admiration. The German dictator13 Adolf Hitler was so shocked14 by the queen's courage that he told his men: “This is the most dangerous woman in Europe.”
After Buckingham Palace suffered a direct hit, she commented15: “I'm glad we've been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face16.”London's poor and poorly defended East End had suffered badly in blitz17.
George Ⅵ died of lung cancer in 1952, and their first daughter ascended the throne as Elizabeth Ⅱ. The senior Elizabeth took the title18 Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Later she said she was happy to be known simply as “Queen Mum”.
Independent19, sociable20 and charming21, the Queen Mum held firmly to22 traditional things and was resistant23 to change. Many of her staff had been with her for half a century.
Her favourite grandson, Prince Charles, called her “the most wonderful example of fun”. She enjoyed gin and Dubonnet as well as champagne, planned official engagements round the horse-racing calendar and expressed an ambition to become Britain's oldest woman.
Her birthday appearances on August 4 were televised around the world every year outside her London home at Clarence House. Her public 100th birthday party was a celebration of everything that is colourful in Britain. A cast24 of 7000, including celebrities25, military bands, 1000 troops, a massed choir26, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, 100 horses, five camels, bulls, sheep, chickens and her two pet dogs joined the parade. She and Prince Charles sat in the warm summer sun enjoying themselves.
Her efforts in making contact with27 the younger royals28, born more than half a century after her, kept the links with the past strong. The new generations kept her young, and she kept them royal.
( Adapted From South China Morning Post)
英国伊丽莎白王太后于2002年3月30日逝世，距她102岁生日只差四个多月。
伊丽莎白·安琪娜·玛格丽特·鲍里昂小姐出生于1900年，当时维多利亚女王还在世。她的家庭是苏格兰王室的后裔。1923年，伊丽莎白与英王乔治五世的二儿子伯尔梯（阿尔伯特）结婚。开始时，她曾拒绝这位腼腆男子的求婚，因为她对与王室结亲所带来的繁文缛节有所顾虑。
她的长女出生于1926年，也起名伊丽莎白，是当今的英国女王。四年以后生了第二个女儿玛格丽特。
1936年乔治五世去世，由长子继任国王，是为爱德华八世。然而没有多久，这位国王要同一个离了婚的美国女人辛普森夫人结婚，宣布退位。于是伯尔梯继位，是为乔治六世。他于第二年加冕为英王， 伊丽莎白成了王后。
1939年第二次世界大战爆发，王后拒绝离开英国（去加拿大）避难。她和两位年轻公主继续呆在伦敦与人民共患难，拒绝转移到加拿大。她这一举动赢得了人们的钦佩与尊敬。德国的独裁者希特勒对王后的英雄气魄感到震惊。他对部下说：“这是欧洲最危险的女人”。
白金汉宫遭受轰炸之后，她说：“我很高兴我们遭到敌机轰炸。这使我感觉到，我能直面东区。”伦敦东区是贫民居住区，防空设施也很差；在猛烈的闪电式空袭中，东区死伤惨重。
1952年乔治六世死于肺癌。他们的长女登基，是为伊丽莎白二世。老伊丽莎白被尊称为伊丽莎白王太后。后来她说，她宁愿人们干脆就称她“母太后”。
母后有别具魅力的仪容，性格独立自主、好交际。她执着于传统生活习惯，不愿随时代改变。她的很多随从都跟随她达半个世纪之久。
她最喜欢的外孙查尔斯王储称她是“欢乐人生的最佳典范”。她喜欢喝杜松子酒和杜博尼酒，还有香槟酒。她根据赛马日程来安排官方活动的时间。她发出豪言壮语，说要成为英国最长寿的女人。
每年8月4日她的生日这一天，她在伦敦的住所克拉伦斯大厦门外露面，实况被全世界转播。她百年华诞的正式庆典荟萃了英国所有多姿多彩的热闹场面。参加庆典的“演员”阵容多达7000人，包括各界名流、军乐团、1000名军人、一个庞大的唱诗班和皇家交响乐团，还有100匹马、5只骆驼以及牛、鸡和绵羊，另外她喂养的两只爱犬也参加了庆典游行。她和查尔斯王储坐在夏日和煦的阳光里，尽情享受着一切。
她同在她之后半个多世纪出生的王室年轻的一代尽量保持紧密联系，使得老一代传统延绵不断。新的一代使她永葆青春，而她则使新的一代永葆王者风度。
1. legendary adj．传奇般的
2． gin n．杜松子酒； Dubonnet n．杜博尼酒
3． champagne n．香槟酒
4． ambition n．抱负
5． lady 此处用来作女性贵族的专称
6． descended from 作为……后裔
7． turn down 拒绝
8． reigning adj．当朝的（君王）
9． abdicate v．逊位
10． divorced adj．离了婚的
11． ascend the throne （君王）即位
12． crown [kraun] v．加冕
13． dictator n．独裁者
14． shocked adj．受到震惊的
15． comment v．评论
16． look．．．in the face 直接看到；直面
17． blitz [blits] n．闪电式的猛烈空袭
18． title n．称号，头衔
19． independent adj．独立的，有主见的
20． sociable adj．善交际的，和蔼可亲的
21． charming adj．有魅力的
22． hold to 坚持（原则、观点）
23． (be) resistant to 对……反抗
24． cast n．演员
25． celebrity n．知名人士
26． choir n．（教会的）唱诗班
27． make contact with 与……联系
28． royal n．王室的一员