The usual Queen’s Birthday Party was held at the British Ambassador’s house in Ramat Gan yesterday (Wednesday, June 15, 2022), with a special royal theme honoring Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years on the throne.
In a video greeting, President Herzog thanked the Queen on the memorable occasion, which was followed by Minister Ayelet Shaked’s keynote address and toast to the Queen.
Leader of the Opposition Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, Ministers, Government Officials, important leaders from Israeli Trade, Economy, Diplomacy, and Society, as well as 750 Embassy friends and relations, were among the guests.
Coronation chicken and children’s drawings
Above 7,000 public events including street parties, marching parades, an air display over London sky, food contests, and a live music concert at Buckingham Palace took place in the UK over the weekend to honor the Queen’s historic Platinum Jubilee.
The Embassy is also including the local community in the celebrations here in Israel. Drawings dedicated to the Queen were put on the gates of the British Ambassador’s Residence in Ramat Gan by students from a Ramat Gan primary school.
The Israeli chamber orchestra performed classics by Queen, Adele, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, and the James Bond soundtrack as classical music, while seminar Hakibutzim art students built royal themed stage design and picture stands for the occasion.
A golden and purple royal throne, the “royal” color purple everywhere, and a “Mad Hatter’s” style tea party from Alice in Wonderland were among the designs at the event.
The menu included Coronation chicken, which was the official dish at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953; King Edward Potatoes, a potato variety grown in the United Kingdom that was proclaimed in 1902 at King Edward’s coronation; and Beef Wellington fillet, a dish named after Wellington’s first Duke, Arthur Wellesley.
Ambassador Wigan said:
“The Queen has been on the throne for 70 years – a glorious achievement. Queen Elizabeth is an extraordinary woman, who dedicated her entire life to serving her country and people.”
“It’s a great honour for me to serve as her Ambassador at such a great time for the bilateral relationship between the UK and Israel. I’m not exaggerating when I say that our relationship is in the best place it has ever been.”
Minister Shaked said:
“The connection between Israel and the royal family, as well as the connection between the countries, is anchored in a common history and shared values. From the Balfour Declaration which was an essential milestone in the Zionist movement, to this very day, where our relations can be characterized as those of wide-ranging cooperation in a variety of different areas.”
“With regard to the Royal Family, we have had, over the past years, the privilege of acquainting ourselves with its members due to the visit of Prince William, and afterwards of his father, Prince Charles, who participated in the event hosted by the President of the State of Israel commemorating 75 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz Death Camp.”