Peres joins the royal baby fervor
President sends Duke and Duchess of Cambridge an outfit with a special message embroidered on it
Stuart Winer is a breaking news editor at The Times of Israel.
President Shimon Peres sent a message of congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their son, and also a personalized baby outfit embroidered with “From Israel with love.”
In a letter on Monday to Prince William and Princess Catherine (Kate), the president wished the happy parents a long life for their as-yet-unnamed first-born.
“On behalf of the people of the State of Israel I wish to express our tremendous joy at the birth of your child — a royal baby born in the most democratic country on earth,” Peres wrote.
“From Jerusalem, we pray for his health, his future, and his peace. May he live to a hundred and twenty years, and I know that the whole Jewish nation joins in wishing the entire Royal Family a hearty Mazal Tov.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Peres commented on how the expectation for the royal birth had brought together people across the globe.
“Never in my life did I see the people of the world so united in happiness,” he said. “It was a demonstration of where royalty helps democracy and where the people have shown what a true democracy is. The streets were full and smiles were on everybody’s face. I am happy to see the whole world so happy with the birth of this young boy.”
Peres also noted that he recalls when the happy father Prince William was himself a mere nipper.
“I am 90 years old, so I saw his father when he was a young boy and now I hope we shall see this newly born prince, doing his job in the most democratic and royal manner. The world became richer with this event. God bless the Queen, From Jerusalem Mazal Tov!”
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also congratulated the royal family on the birth of the new heir. “Mazal Tov to the queen, Prince Charles, the happy couple and the Kingdom’s residents from all of Israel’s citizens,” said Netanyahu in a statement Monday.
