(来源：专业英语学习网站 http://www.EnglishCN.com)

　　After eight long and sometimes lonely years of waiting, Kate Middleton will today marry Prince William。

　　At 11am, the middle-class graduate – who, so legend has it, used to lie in her dormitory bed gazing at a picture of her husband-to-be – will enter Westminster Abbey as a commoner and an hour later walk out as the future Queen Catherine。

　　Last night Kate was positively glowing as she arrived at the central London hotel where she was to spend her final night as a single woman。

　　With her mother, Carole, and younger sister, Pippa, she paused for several minutes and waved to the delighted well-wishers who had gathered outside。

　　Today's chapter in the couple's romance – punctuated, like many relationships, with tearful break-ups and emotional reunions – will be watched by an estimated worldwide audience of two billion。

　　More than half a million will line London's streets as part of a joyful celebration similar to the outbreak of optimism 30 years ago when William's parents, Charles and Diana, married at St Paul's Cathedral。

　　The only fly in the ointment could be the weather. Forecasters admitted that a burst of April showers was a distinct possibility。

　　The couple's thoroughly modern relationship has seen them become the most senior members of the Royal Family to live together before marriage, an unthinkable arrangement even a couple of decades ago。

　　Unlike the Queen, who promised to obey Prince Philip when they married in 1947, Kate will today pledge only to 'love, comfort, honour and keep'。

　　She has kept the country guessing right up until the 11th hour over the identity of the designer of her much-anticipated dress, telling friends she wanted it to be a surprise for William。

　　在经历了八年的爱情长跑、以及时常孤寂的等待后，凯特•米德尔顿终于要在今天嫁给英国威廉王子了。

　　(英国时间)上午11点，这位中产阶级大学毕业生将以平民身份进入威斯敏斯特教堂。而仅在一小时之后，当她步出教堂时，就将成为凯瑟琳王妃。据传闻，她常常躺在宿舍的床上，凝视未婚夫威廉的照片。

　　昨晚，凯特抵达伦敦市中心的一家宾馆时，洋溢着幸福之情。她在那里度过了单身的最后一个夜晚。

　　和她一同抵达住处的还有母亲卡罗尔和妹妹皮帕。凯特停留了几分钟，向兴奋地等在门外的祝福人群挥手致意。

　　据估计，全球将有20亿人观看婚礼盛况。威廉和凯特的恋情如同其他人一样，历经波折，分手后又再度复合。

　　将有超过50万人站在婚车经过的伦敦路边，目睹这场盛大婚礼。就如同30年前，威廉的父母、查尔斯和戴安娜在圣保罗大教堂结婚时，使乐观传遍英国，威廉王子大婚也将是一场令人愉悦的盛事。

　　唯一美中不足的是天气。气象预报员称，婚礼当天很有可能会下雨。

　　威廉和凯特是完全的现代恋爱关系。在威廉之前，英国王室中还没人在婚前同居，这在几十年前是不可想象的。

　　1947年，英国女王嫁给菲利普亲王时，曾承诺“我服从”，而凯特在婚礼誓言中仅仅会提到“爱、舒心、尊重、始终如一”。

　　英国民众一直在猜测凯特的婚纱设计师是谁，直到婚礼当天11点她才会揭开这一谜底。凯特对朋友说，她想给威廉一个惊喜。