来源：The New York Times
网址：http://tinyurl.com/y7erjrxy
Inside the Royal Box at Wimbledon: Astronauts and V.I.P. Strawberries
温布顿的皇家包厢：有太空人跟VIP草莓
WIMBLEDON, England — To be among the few who receive an invitation to watch
tennis from one of the 74 seats in the royal box at Wimbledon’s Centre Court
is akin to getting an acceptance letter from Hogwarts.
要接到邀请去只有74个座位的温布顿皇家包厢大概跟接到霍格华兹的入学通知信一样困
难。
“There is a view, among those who have attended the royal box, that it is
one of the most special experiences in sport,” said Alexandra Willis, the
head of communications for the All England Club. “It’s because of the fact
that it’s by invitation only — you can’t just decide it’s something you
want to attend.”
“光看在皇家包厢里的人就已经是难得的经验了，”全英俱乐部里负责联络的Alexandra
Willis说到。“那是只有被邀请的人才可以来，那不是想参加就可以来的地方。”
The oak-lined royal box sits right behind the south baseline of the court,
clearly visible to spectators and cameras. While its placement is prominent,
its perks are protected.
用橡木内衬的皇家包厢座落在球场南边，观众跟记者的镜头都很容易看见。虽然皇家包厢
的位置大家都看得到，但是它包含了什么服务，却不是那么容易被知道。
“Keeping some mystery and not giving away too much of what that experience
is like” is important, Willis said.“The only people who really know are those
who have had it themselves,” she added.
“保持些许神秘感，不要让外界知道皇家包厢体验有哪些是很重要的，”温网联络负责人
说到。“只有体验过皇家包厢的人知道就好了。”
Many who had been invited are eager to divulge details, however. They often
consider the visit one of the most memorable occasions of their lives.
但是许多已经去过的都会等不及想说皇家包厢的细节，他们都认为这是人生难得的体验。
Invitations arrive two to three months before the tournament and read:
“The Chairman and Committee of Management of The Championships request the
pleasure of the company of [name] & Guest in the Royal Box on [date].
“This invitation to the Royal Box includes lunch in the Clubhouse prior to
the commencement of play, afternoon tea and drinks at the end of the day.”
邀请函会在温网开打前二到三个月就会收到，上面写着：
“全英俱乐部主席以及委员会们敬邀[姓名]及宾客于[日期]至皇家包厢。”
“邀请您参加于俱乐部于比赛前的午餐，下午茶以及赛后的饮料会。”
There is a dress code: jackets and ties for men, and no skirts or dresses
ending above the knee for women.
这有服装要求的：男生要穿外套跟领带，女生不可以穿膝上的短裙或洋装。
It is best to arrive by noon for the lunch, which is hosted by the club’s
chairman, Philip Brook, and his wife, Gill, before play, which begins at 1
p.m. on most days. Brook opens with a brief talk about the tournament and the
matches that guests will see on Centre Court that day.
最好在中午前到达，因为会由大会主席Philip Brook以及他的太太在开打前招待午餐，而
且主席会介绍当天的比赛。
The food served is substantial and decadent; several visitors mentioned
poached lobster as a favorite.
食物当然是好又赞；几位参加过的说清蒸龙虾是最好的其中之一。
Strawberries, the traditional snack of Wimbledon, are also offered, but not
merely those sold to other fans on the grounds. Royal box guests enjoy an
especially exquisite variety, called a Driscoll Jubilee, which is treasured
for its firmness and sweetness and reserved for their consumption.
温布顿的传统点心，草莓，也会提供，但是不是那些卖给一般观众的。皇家包厢享受的是
一种特别的草莓叫Driscoll Jubilee，以扎实及鲜甜闻名。
The group adjourns to the court 10 minutes before the first match begins and
stays there throughout the day. Afternoon tea is served from 3:45 p.m. to
5:15 p.m. For those wanting further nibbles, a small leather-bound bucket of
candies is discreetly passed through the box during play. If it becomes
chilly, as it often does, blankets arrive.
宾客会在开打前10分钟进场直到比赛结束。下午茶会在3：45到5：15分提供；若是在比赛
中想吃点东西的，大会会在赛中提供一个小皮袋，内有糖果；如果天气变冷，也会提供毛
毯。
Guests are assigned woven-wicker seats in the box, each with their name, a
commemorative program and a small gift. This year, the gift was a green
leather zippered bag embossed with the Wimbledon logo and the words “Royal
Box 2017.” Guests also receive sterling silver lapel pins and a
commemorative photograph of match action from that day’s play with the box
visible in the background, paired with a seating chart.
宾客会坐在编织椅套的椅子里，上面都有绣他们的名字，摆放着节目单跟小礼物。今年是
个绿色皮制袋子，上面有温布顿的标志跟写着“皇家包厢2017”。宾客也会收到一个银制
别针跟一张照片，照片有当天比赛时所拍的球员打球照片，背景就是皇家包厢，同时有皇
家包厢座位表。
More than the amenities, what guests treasure most is the company. Ken
Solomon, the chairman and chief executive of Tennis Channel, called it “a
cross section of the most interesting people who are in the U.K. at that
moment.”
除了这些礼物及服务，宾客最珍惜的还是看皇家包厢里还有哪些人参加。网球频道Tennis
Channel的主席Ken Solomon称这个聚会是一次看完当代英国最有趣人的地方。
Solomon said he could only compare the camaraderie of the shared experience
at Wimbledon to what he has felt as a guest of the American president.
他甚至称可以跟这个聚会比肩的就是他去参加美国总统宴会的时候了。
“When you meet someone at the White House, it doesn’t matter who they are —
you know they are having one of the greatest days of their life as well,”
Solomon said. “No matter who you are, how important, you can’t buy your
way into that space, and there’s only a handful of people who are there, and
it’s very special. You’re going to remember it the rest of your life, and
you know they are, too.”
“当你在白宫碰到某个人，不管那个人是谁