Finally, I’m relevant in Israel. My opinion is sought; my knowledge is useful. As soon as people realise I’m originally from Britain, they want to know details about the Royal Wedding. Yes, stories about it are already appearing in the Israeli media, which doesn’t usually carry such frivolous news items.
Now that this rare opportunity has arisen, rest assured, I’m not letting the side down. I take my self-appointed responsibility of being Israel’s British Royal Family expert very seriously indeed. I keep myself up to speed by reading all the royal wedding specials in the online editions of the UK papers and Hello! magazine several times a day.
I can elaborate on any detail, large or small, of the impending nuptials and it’s my job to put this in context for Israelis.
I have explained, for example, that while there is a mechitza in Westminster Abbey, it is to separate royals from commoners. And I have another little nugget of information to share: I have it on good authority that today the Queen and Prince Philip are preparing the Buckingham Palace balcony for the post-wedding ceremony ritual, where the newlyweds and all the Royal Family come out and wave to the assembled throng below. This definitely resonates in Israel, where pretty much everyone has a balcony, or mirpeset as we call it. Thus I have explained that from today there will be none of the usual airing of royal duvets and pillows over the side of the Palace mirpeset. The barbecue will have to be relocated somewhere else for next few days, and the plastic table and chairs will have to be stacked out of the way in the far corner of the mirpeset.
It’s a pain, but we’ve all done it when we’ve had family celebrations in our homes over here. It’s nice to think that even in Israel, we can identify with Her Majesty at this most special time.