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　　U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have spent the day in London with Britain's royal family. It was the start of President Obama's first state visit to Britain and it may bolster¹ the longtime relationship between Britain and the United States.
美国总统奥巴马和夫人米歇尔在伦敦与英国王室度过了一天。这是奥巴马对英国进行的首次国事访问。这次访问有望增进英美之间的长期友谊。
Obama and the first lady arrived in London late Monday, 12 hours early because of a volcanic² ash cloud that is disrupting air travel.
奥巴马和第一夫人米歇尔星期一晚上抵达伦敦，为了避开影响空中旅行的火山灰，奥巴马提前12小时到达伦敦。
But Tuesday they were back on schedule, with a day marked by the pomp and pageantry that typifies state visits to Britain.
不过到了星期二，一切都按原计划进行。由于这是对英国的国事访问，星期二奥巴马夫妇受到英国方面盛大欢迎典礼的接待。
London's streets were cleared for the presidential convoy's high security trip to Buckingham Palace, the royal family's main residence.
奥巴马这次伦敦之行戒备极为森严，为迎接总统车队前往皇宫白金汉宫访问，伦敦的大街的安全隐患全都被清除掉。
There, Obama and his wife were met by Queen Elizabeth and her consort³, Prince Philip.
奥巴马和夫人在白金汉宫受到伊丽莎白女王及其丈夫菲利普亲王的接待。
The group have met before, two years ago, and Mrs. Obama even brought the couple's two daughters to England for a recent trip. But this is the first state visit by the president and his wife. The U.S. president was honored with a 41-gun salute⁴ and, in the palace gardens, the United States national anthem⁵.
他们两年前会见过。奥巴马夫人最近甚至带着两个女儿去过英格兰。可是，这一次是奥巴马总统和妻子对英国进行的第一次国事访问。这位美国总统受到了41响礼炮的迎接。白金汉宫奏响了美国国歌。
State visits are an important form of diplomatic contact between nations, and this trip is designed to show the close relationship between Britain and the United States.
国事访问对于国与国之间的外交联系十分重要。这次访问的目的就是要显示英美之间的密切关系。
When asked a few Britons had opinions about the strength of the relationship.
美国之音记者询问了一些英国人，请他们谈谈对英美关系的看法。
"I think it is pretty good. They both help each other out with the wars and politics and everything," said one man. "Barack's very involved with our parliament, as we are with America. We have helped to fight terrorism and a lot of holiday people leave here to go to America."
某行人说：“我认为我们的关系非常好。两国在战争、政治乃至所有问题上都是互相帮助。就像我们对美国的政治十分关注一样，奥巴马也很关注英国议会的事务。我们已经帮助美国打击恐怖主义，许多英国人离开这里去美国度假。”
"There tends to be the thought that Britain still thinks that we are a bit of a superpower when we are not really anymore," said another man. "But America is and it is good to be allied⁶ with the most powerful country in the world, we would be stupid to turn our backs on that."
行人说：“一些英国人往往仍然认为我们现在还算是一个超级大国，而实际上我们已经不再是了。可是，美国是超级大国。和世界上最强大的国家结盟是个好事，我们要是轻视这一点那就是愚蠢的。”
"I just think certain prime ministers of our country have not always hit it off with presidents," one woman said. "It has to be a warm relationship and obviously there are personalities⁷ that do not always hit it off amazingly, but I think the present leaders do."
行人说：“我只是认为，我们国家有些首相并不总是能和美国总统相处得很好。他们之间必须有很好的关系。显然，英国首相和美国总统的个性并不总是能使他们相处得很融洽。不过我认为，两国目前的领导人关系不错。”
Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife hosted Mr. and Mrs. Obama at Downing Street.
英国首相卡梅伦和他的夫人在唐宁街接待了奥巴马夫妇。
The two elected leaders have plenty to discuss. At the top of the agenda is the ongoing⁸ crisis in Libya, Afghanistan, and Israel-Palestine, as well as the Arab Spring and Iran's nuclear ambitions.
这两位民选领导人有许多问题要讨论，其中最重要的是目前利比亚、阿富汗、以色列和巴勒斯坦、阿拉伯之春以及伊朗的核野心等正在发生的危机。
Those conversations will be addressed further on Wednesday when Obama is to hold talks with British politicians and address Britain's parliament.
双方星期三还将进一步举行会谈，到时候，奥巴马将与英国政界人士会谈，并且要在英国议会发表演说。
But for Tuesday evening, the president’s plans call him back to Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace, where he and Mrs. Obama will be guests of honor at an evening banquet, sure to be marked with the same splendor⁹ and ceremony as the day’s events.