Peres wishes Will and Kate a hearty 'Mazal Tov'

President sends gift 'With Love from Israel' to newborn baby boy.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Peres gift to Kate and Will 370 (photo credit: President's Press Office)
Peres gift to Kate and Will 370
(photo credit: President's Press Office)
President Shimon Peres on Tuesday morning wished the British royal family a "hearty Mazal Tov" on the birth of a newborn son for Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton and her husband Prince William.
Letter sent to royal family from President Shimon Peres, 23 July, 2013.
Letter sent to royal family from President Shimon Peres, 23 July, 2013.
In a letter (left), Peres wrote: "On behalf 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 in the world."
With the letter, Peres sent a blue and white baby suit embroidered with the words: "With Love from Israel."
"From Jerusalem, we pray for his health, his future, and his peace," Peres wrote.
In a traditional Israeli expression, the president wished that he will live till 120-years-old, adding that he knows "the whole Jewish nation joins me in wishing the entire royal family a hearty 'Mazal Tov'."
Kate gave birth to a boy on Monday, the couple's first child and the third in line to the British throne, heralding celebrations in London and messages of goodwill from across the world.
"We could not be happier," Prince William said in a brief statement, after he witnessed the birth of his son at 4:24 p.m., an event that sparked an international media frenzy and the illumination of London landmarks in blue.
His office said Kate and the baby, weighing 8 lbs 6 oz (3.8 kg) and to be publicly named at a later date, were both doing well and would stay in hospital overnight.
It might take some time for the name to emerge however. The announcement of William's name took more than a week, but bookmakers make George the favorite, followed by James.
Reuters contributed to this report.