As the world prepares to celebrate the nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton, Israelis of British extraction seem happy for the couple, for the most part – although like other Britons and expats, they have a range of views on the event, from wildly interested to wholly apathetic, and even, in some cases, hopping mad.
The wedding of the second in line to the British throne and Middleton, a soon-to-be former “commoner” from Berkshire, is to take place in London on Friday, with tens, if not hundreds, of millions watching on TV. Tens of thousands are expected to line the route of the wedding procession as it proceeds to the church where Middleton and William will tie the knot. An invitation to the wedding is the hottest ticket in town – even President and Mrs. Obama aren't on it – and there is only one Israeli on the list, outgoing Israeli ambassador to the UK Ron Prosor.
There will be plenty of wedding action in Israel as well. The event will be broadcast live on Channel 1, and the British Embassy will be throwing a party celebrating the wedding as it proceeds on Friday. Groups representing British Olim, including Nefesh B'Nefesh UK and ESRA, will be holding organized and ad-hoc celebrations at venues around the country.
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon issued congratulations in the government's name. “I know many Israelis will be watching the event with great interest, wishing the happy couple well,” he wrote in a note to the British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould. “I would be most pleased if you would extend to the young couple an invitation to visit Israel. We hope they will be able to visit this summer,” he wrote.
Many Britons living in Israel are indeed proud of their country. “In these days of budget cutbacks in Britain, with people having a harder time putting food on the table, the royal wedding is a nice, positive event that shows the better side of Britian,” says Meir, a recent oleh to Israel from London. “Brits are generally known for their stiff upper lip, and a royal wedding is a good diversion for many people. It's nothing more than a good show, the kind of show that we like,” he tells Arutz 7's English site reporter.
Chava, also from London, agreed. “If you were raised in England, you were raised with the notion of a royal family. It's our face to the world, and even if you think the notion of a king and queen stuffy and old-fashioned, you can't help but care – and even worry – about them. It's as if all our hopes and dreams are tied up with them, and when they celebrate – as they are now – we do too,” she said.
It's a good show, but an expensive one – as is the entire notion of the royal family, says Sarah, originally from Manchester but living in Israel for the past 15 years. “I have nothing against the royals, but I was always uncomfortable with the high cost of maintenance of the family, the palace, the Queen, and the whole arrangement,” she told Arutz 7.
“It may come as a surprise to many people, but there is a substantial anti-monarchist movement in Britain. Of course, many of the republicans, as the anti-monarchists are called, are keeping quiet this week – it wouldn't be cricket to ruin the party in the middle – but not all of us are that concerned. I think for many people, the big celebration is going to be having a day off. Besides,” she adds, “we're in Israel now. Don't we have enough to keep us busy here?”