the queen has cancelled this year's christmas party for her staff because of the 'difficult financial circumstances' facing the country. the 600 members of the royal household had been expecting to attend the lavish celebration, paid for by the monarch, at buckingham palace。

　　向来很大方的英国王室今年冬天要“小气”一回了。有报道称，英国女王伊丽莎白二世日前决定，鉴于目前国家处于“深陷经济危机的时刻”，原定于在白金汉宫巨星的圣诞派对本着“与全英老百姓共度难关”的精神取消。据悉，这场圣诞party原定邀请了600多名王亲贵族参加，而宴会所花费的的巨额资金原本全部都由“老太太”伊丽莎白二世自行承担。

　　but they were said to be devastated last night when the cost-cutting decision was announced. a palace spokesman said today: 'the queen is acutely aware of the difficult economic circumstances facing the country.'it was decided it was appropriate for the royal household to show restraint and therefore not hold the party this year.'

　　当英国政府决定推行和平时期最严厉的紧缩开支政策一向大众公开，皇室的成员们立马觉得2个月后的“圣诞大狂欢”计划泡汤了。皇室发言人今天说道，女王已经意识到国家正在处于一个非常“严峻”的时刻，为了节俭开支，体恤民情，女王还是决定不办圣诞聚会了。

　　guests - including 250 privately-employed staff from the queen's estates - had been expecting the ?50,000 party to be held in december. the celebration usually occurs every two years and is funded by the queen's private

　　据悉，圣诞排队是英国皇室的传统庆祝活动，每二年举办一次，所有费用均由女王伊丽莎白二世承担。还是那句谚语，羊毛出在羊身上，据悉，原本这次豪华派对将从女王(也还是纳税人身上)花掉5万英镑的，这下，老百姓终于可以和皇室们一起度过这个寒冬了。

　　vocabulary:

　　queen n. 女王，王后