When the Duchess of Cambridge visited an Oxford primary school last week, her chic white coat and little black clutch showed off the style and taste.

上周凯特王妃参观牛津的一所小学的时候，她那别致的白色大衣和黑色的小手包凸显了她的风格和品味。

But the way she held her handbag revealed a surprise — Kate's index, middle and ring fingers are all very similar in length.

但是她拿手提包的方式透露了一个令人惊讶的信息——凯特的食指、中指以及无名指的长度非常相似。

It's long been thought that digit size is linked to certain character traits, sporting ability and even some illnesses.

一直以来，人们认为手指长度与某些性格特点、运动能力，甚至是一些疾病都有所关联。

But what do Kate's finger lengths reveal about her — and what other secrets is the Royal Family hiding?

但是凯特手指的长度能透露出她的哪些信息呢？皇室还隐藏着其他什么秘密呢？

IT ALL STARTS IN YOUR MOTHER'S WOMB . . .

这一切都始于你母亲的子宫……

Developmental biologist Professor John Manning says the fact Kate index and ring fingers are similar in length probably results from high exposure to oestrogen in the womb.

发育生物学家约翰·曼宁教授表示，凯特王妃的食指和无名指的长度相似可能是由于胎儿在子宫中接触到大量的雌激素。

His studies show that if a foetus is exposed to high levels of oestrogen as it develops, the index finger and ring finger will end up about the same length.

他的研究表明，如果胎儿在发育的过程中接触到高浓度的雌激素，其食指和无名指的长度最终就会相同。

At the same time, the hormone will have a profound effect on the baby's personality, making the child more likely to display classically 'female' traits such as creativity and sensitivity.

同时，这种激素会对婴儿的性格产生深远的影响，使这个孩子更可能表现出典型的“具有女性特质的”特点，例如创造力和敏感性。

If a foetus is exposed to more testosterone in the early months of pregnancy, the baby is likely to have a shorter index finger than ring finger, and may be more susceptible to exhibiting ‘male’ traits, such as aggression and competitiveness.

如果胎儿在母体怀孕早期接触到较多睾酮，这个婴儿的食指可能就会比无名指短，而且可能更容易表现出“具有男性特质的”特点，例如攻击性和竞争力。

KATE'S GOT A REAL SOCIAL CONSCIENCE

凯特拥有真正的社会责任感

‘Kate's middle finger should stand 2cm longer than the others,’ says Johnny Fincham, palmistry expert. ‘That it doesn't, indicates she has an enormous sympathy with the outsider. She's strongly geared towards the underdog.’

‘凯特的中指本应该比其他手指长2厘米，’手相术专家约翰尼·芬彻姆说道。‘但却没有这样，这说明她对别人很有同情心，而且更关注那些处于劣势的人。'

However, the Royals may be in for a shock in the coming years.‘As Kate gets older, she may want to escape the restrictions of royal life. Many such people end up living in a land outside of the one they were born in.’

然而，在今后几年，她可能会让皇室大吃一惊。‘随着凯特年龄的增长，她可能会想挣脱皇室生活的束缚。许多这样的人最终都在自己出生地以外的地方生活。’

SHE'S CHARMING, BUT A BIT ALOOF

她很有魅力，但有些冷淡

Palmists believe the shape of your palm says a lot about you, with four basic types, one for each element: fire, water, earth and air. ‘Kate has an air palm — it’s square, with long, thin fingers and quite bony, pale hands,’ says Johnny Fincham.

手相术师认为，你手掌的形状也会反映出你的许多特点。手掌有四种基本形状，每种对应一种元素：火、水、土和风。‘凯特的手相为风属性，她的手掌呈方形，手指细长瘦削且苍白，’芬彻姆说道。

‘People with air palms are quiet, refined, intelligent, sensitive and articulate. They don't usually like to get into a situation where there are too many impediments on their freedom. They like to come and go as they please and travel a lot.

‘拥有风属性手相的人，安静、优雅、聪慧、敏感而且口才很好。他们通常不喜欢陷入特别限制自由的境遇。他们喜欢去自己喜欢的地方，而且经常旅行。’

‘While they can be charming, they are often hard to pin down, somewhat unknowable and aloof.’

‘虽然他们可能很迷人，但他们往往很难明确表态，有点不可理解，也有些冷漠。’

FATE IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND

命运掌握在你手中

If YOU have a rectangular palm with muscular fingers, and perhaps a bit of a tan, you have fire palms, says Johnny.

如果你的手掌呈长方形，且手指健壮，可能还呈现出一点黄褐色，你的手相可能为火属性，约翰尼说道。

‘These people are very assertive, go-getting and extremely concerned with their career. They're often self-made and can be quite intense. They’re not good at reflection.’

‘这类人非常自信，还很有抱负，并且特别重视自己的事业。他们往往自力更生，而且可能会很热情。不过他们不善于反思。’

A heavy, square palm with solid, fleshy and quite short fingers means your palms are ruled by the earth element. 'These are grounded, solid people,' says Johnny. 'They have huge energy and endurance. They are humble, stoic and unpretentious.’

拥有厚实方形的手掌，且手指结实、丰满，又不太长，这意味着你的手掌由土元素所掌控。‘这类人理性又可靠，’约翰尼说道。‘他们很有活力和忍耐力。他们谦虚、坚忍且不事张扬。’

If you have narrow, soft and silky smooth palms and long, flexible fingers with pointed tips and oval nails, you have a water palm. ‘These are often deeply emotive types,’ says Johnny.

如果你的手掌窄小、柔软且丝滑，手指又长又灵活，指尖突出，且指甲呈椭圆形，那你的手相为水属性。‘这类人往往很有感染力，’约翰尼说道。

‘They are highly geared towards their feelings, often artistic and intuitive — their heart rules their head.

‘他们重视自我感受，往往有艺术天赋，而且有敏锐的洞察力，他们的主意是随心而定的。’

‘Also, they're open, friendly people. But they often get into relationship problems.’

‘而且他们坦率且友善。但他们常常会遇到有关人际关系的问题。’

CURIOUS CASE OF KATE’S PINKY

关于凯特的小指的奇闻

Kate's slim little finger is longer than normal, a sign of curiosity about the world and an ability to engage and influence others.

凯特纤细的小指比普通人的要长一些，这说明她对这个世界有好奇心，而且能够吸引并影响别人。

‘Such people are usually good with money and use words well,’ says Johnny. Prince Charles shares this trait, while his knotty knuckles suggest someone who has an analytical nature and speaks his mind.

“这样的人通常擅长赚钱，而且善于言辞，”约翰尼说道。查尔斯王子就有这样的特点，而他多节的指节说明他善于分析，而且会坦率地说出自己的想法。

Indeed, Charles has supported a broad range of causes, from organic farming to alternative therapies.

的确，从有机农业到替代疗法，查尔斯资助了很多事业。

SPORTY ROYALS’ RING FINGERS

运动系皇室成员的无名指

If YOU have a ring finger longer than your index finger, you're a born sportsman — or woman, as Zara Tindall proves. This is seen as a typical ‘masculine hand’. Zara has the trait along with Prince Andrew and his former wife Fergie.

如果你的无名指比食指长，那你就是天生的运动员，就像萨拉·廷德尔那样。这被视为一双典型的“具有男性气质的手”。萨拉与安德鲁王子以及他的前妻菲姬都有这样的特点。

Professor Manning says there is a strong correlation between longer ring fingers and excelling at running.

曼宁教授表示，无名指较长的人可能更擅长跑步。

The longer a runner’s ring finger compared to their index finger, the better they’ll do. Such people are also more likely to take risks, with a ‘work hard, play hard’ attitude. Number-crunching and problem-solving comes easily. They're also more likely to be an extrovert — and wealthy.

与食指相比，赛跑者的无名指越长，跑得就越快。这类人也更有可能会去冒险，而且他们怀有一种“努力工作，尽情享乐”的态度。他们也比较擅长捣弄数字，解决问题，而且他们更有可能性格外向且腰缠万贯。

However, those with relatively short index fingers are less likely to be faithful, according to scientists at Imperial College , London . Men with the trait are more likely to suffer from prostate cancer and end up in prison — or be murdered.

不过，伦敦帝国理工学院的科学家表示，那些食指相对较短的人不太可能守信。拥有这种特点的男士更有可能罹患前列腺癌，最终可能会入狱或被谋杀。

HE-MAN HARRY HAS ‘FEMALE’ HANDS . . .

颇有男子气概的哈里王子有一双“具有女性气质的”手

Look closely at the hands of both Prince Harry and the Queen and you'll see their index fingers are the same length as their ring fingers, just like Kate’s.

仔细观察一下哈里王子和女王的手，你就会发现他们就像凯特一样，食指和无名指一样长。

Although this is sometimes seen as a typical ‘female’ hand, many men have it, too.

虽然有时候这会被视为一双典型的“具有女性气质的”手，但许多男士也有这样的特点。

Studies by Oxford University have shown people with matching index and ring finger lengths are more likely to stay faithful within a relationship than those with a shorter index finger, which is good news for Meghan.

牛津大学的研究表明，与那些食指较短的人相比，食指和无名指一样长的人对感情更忠贞，这对梅根来说可是个好消息。

Such people are less likely to excel at sport or be musically gifted. They do tend to be very organised, find multi-tasking a breeze and have great memories. Peace-loving and conflict-avoiding, they're usually caring types.

这类人不太可能擅长体育运动，也不太可能拥有音乐天赋。但他们往往非常有条理，擅长同时处理多项任务，而且有很好的记忆力。他们热爱和平，避免冲突，而且通常乐于助人。

It’s no surprise to hear that the Queen has these traits, although perhaps they reveal more about Harry’s tender nature.

听到女王有这些特点也就不足为奇了，不过这些特点可能也揭露了哈里王子温柔的本性。

. . . AND HE'S UNDER MEGHAN'S THUMB!

哈里王子尽在梅根的掌握之中！

The lines on your palms have been used to tell fortunes for centuries. So, what do they mean?

几百年来，人们一直用掌纹来算命。那么它们都有什么含义呢？

Most people have two major lines — the heart line, which runs from under the little finger towards the index, and the head line, which is below it and runs down from near the thumb.

大多数人手上都有两条主要的掌纹，感情线和智慧线。感情线从小指下方延伸至食指，而智慧线在其下方，从拇指附近向下延伸。

But Meghan doesn’t have two lines, she has just one, which is hugely rare. ‘It shows a special talent and ability, someone who’s single-minded, highly motivated and absolutely unstoppable. She’ll get exactly what she wants,’ says Johnny.

但是梅根没有两条掌纹，她只有一条（感情线和智慧线合二为一），这是很罕见的。‘这说明梅根有特别的天赋和才能，她很专一，也很有上进心，而且谁都拦不住她。她会得到自己想要的，’约翰尼说道。

‘It tends to show a difficult early life — like parents splitting up and having to fend for yourself. People with it have a strong sense of being a survivor and having to use every ounce of wit and charm to get by.’

‘只有一条掌纹的人往往童年比较艰辛，例如父母离异，不得不自力更生。这样的人有强烈的幸存感，他们会利用自己所有的才智和魅力生存下去。’

（翻译：Dlacus）