为什么凯特王妃在皇家宴会上总双手放前拿包?

 　　Have you ever seen Kate Middleton at an official engagement carrying anything other than a clutch?

　　你见过凯特·米德尔顿在正式场合携带其它东西而不是包包的情况吗？

　　We know--we too racked our brains (a.k.a. Google) trying to find at least one exception, but alas¹, the clutch is as much a Kate Middleton staple² as is her bouncy hair.

　　我们知道--即使是绞尽脑汁（也就是搜遍谷歌全网）也不会找到一次例外，哎，包包同凯特·米德尔顿那极富弹性的头发一样重要。

　　However, the reason the Duchess of Cambridge always seems to select a small box clutch goes far deeper than fashion-statement purposes.

　　不过，这位剑桥公爵总是选择手提一个小型包包的原因远不止是出于诠释时尚。

　　为什么凯特王妃在皇家宴会上总双手放前拿包?

　　Myka Meier, founder³ of Beaumont Etiquette⁴, told Good Housekeeping that Kate "holds her bag in front of her in both hands when shaking hands might be awkward." Yes, duchesses have awkward moments too.

　　Beaumont Etiquette的创始人麦卡·米亚向杂志《好管家》透露，凯特在面临握手尴尬时会把包包放到自己的双手前。是的，公爵夫人也会有尴尬的时候。

　　MailOnline's expert, William Hanson, explains, "It is protocol⁵ that you do not extend your hand to any member of the royal family (blood royal or those who have married into the family) unless their hand extends first."

　　《每日邮报网》的专家威廉·汉森解释称：“这是一种外交礼仪，你不要伸手与王室的任何成员（王族或者是那些嫁入王室的人）握手，除非他们主动伸手”。

　　Hence, the reason Kate feels the need to pick a bag that puts both her hands out of commission.

　　所以，这就是凯特觉得有必要提个使她不能腾出双手的包包的原因。

　　So if you want to take a page from Kate's book at your next awkward family gathering⁶ (or during flu season), keep your clutch in both hands and smile politely.

　　因此，如果你想要在下一次尴尬的家庭聚会（或者是流感季节）当中效仿凯特，那么就双手提个包包、有礼貌地微笑。

1 alas   

int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)

参考例句：

• Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
• Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。

2 staple   

n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类

参考例句：

• Tea is the staple crop here.本地产品以茶叶为大宗。
• Potatoes are the staple of their diet.土豆是他们的主要食品。

3 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

4 etiquette   

n.礼仪，礼节；规矩

参考例句：

• The rules of etiquette are not so strict nowadays.如今的礼仪规则已不那么严格了。
• According to etiquette,you should stand up to meet a guest.按照礼节你应该站起来接待客人。

5 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

6 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。