Prince Charles

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Prince Charles Not Yet In Charge
(MSNBC, 2012)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/49972273#49972273
Prince Charles at the age of sixty-four has waited longer to become King than any heir to the throne in
British history. And in comments he made just this past weekend, he is now just starting to show some
impatience.
Our report from London and NBC’s Keir Simmons.
At an age when many retire, Prince Charles hasn’t even started the job he was born to do.
The boy grows older, Bonnie Prince Charlie, heir apparent…
He’s grown up in public, seen his eldest son marry, and watched his mother celebrate sixty years on the
throne. He has played the waiting game to perfection, which is why these latest comments got so much
attention.
Impatient, me? What a thing to suggest! Yes, of course I’m. Uhm. Will I be ... I shall have snuffed it if
I’m not careful!
He was talking about a project to restore a stately home, but his words made headlines for what he’s seen
to be saying about his long wait to be King.
Over the years, Charles has become visibly more relaxed as Prince of Wales, speaking out on issues he
cares about like global warming.
The earth will soon begin to suffer some very grim consequences.
But he knows the clock is ticking and as he told Brian recently, there’s not much he can do about it.
It’s all in, in… the Providence, in God, isn’t it, really? I don’t know. I may drop dead long before then.
For Charles to become King, his mother would have to die or step down and at eighty-six, she shows no
sign of doing either. Just today, (she was) paying a visit to British troops.
The Queen will not leave Buckingham Palace until the last day of her life. She believes it is her duty to
serve.
And if Queen Elizabeth lives as long as her mum, a hundred and one, then Charles won’t take the throne
until 2027, the year he turns seventy-nine.
That might be enough to try anyone’s patience!
Keir Simmons, NBC News, London
Vocabulary
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
any heir to the throne
just this past weekend
retire
heir apparent
he has played the waiting game
got so much attention
what a thing to suggest
I shall have snuffed it if I’m not careful!
n’importe quel héritier au trône
aussi récemment que le week-end dernier
prendre sa retraite
héritier présomptif
(expr.) il attend son heure
a retenu tant d’attention que
idée de ‘comment osez-vous suggérer ceci!’
(argot) = to die / j’aurai cassé la pipe si je ne suis pas
prudent
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9. to restore a stately home
10. made headlines
11. speaking out on issues
12. global warming
13. some very grim consequences
14. the clock is ticking
15. I may drop dead long before then
16. step down
17. she shows no sign of doing either
18. paying a visit
19. it is her duty to serve
20. he turns seventy-nine
21. to try anyone’s patience
rénover un château / manoir (ouvert au public)
ont fait la une
s’exprimant sur des sujets
réchauffement climatique
sombres, sérieuses
le temps passe (‘l’horloge tourne’)
(expr.) il se peut que je tombe raide mort bien avant
abdiquer, descendre du trône
elle ne semble pas sur le point de faire ni l’un ni
l’autre
rendant visite
c’est son devoir de servir
il aura soixante-dix-neuf ans
mettre à l’épreuve la patience de n’importe qui