The Jewish connections to the royal wedding

TALI FEINBERG

Twins Brian and John, who were page boys, and daughter Isabel, a flower girl, are the children of Markle’s close friend, Jessica Mulroney, of the Jewish Montreal-based Brownstein family. She was wearing blue as she led her daughter up the steps behind the bride.

While Markle was living in Toronto filming Suits, she became quite close to the entire Mulroney family: Jessica and her husband Ben, who is the son of former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and their three children.

“When Harry first started going to Toronto to visit Meghan, it was Ben and Jessica who had them over at their house for dinners because it wasn’t easy for them to go out in public without the risk of getting spotted,” a source told E! News.

“Harry has become close with their children. Ivy, their daughter, is a big fan. She, of course, has no idea that he’s a prince, though – he’s just auntie Meghan’s special friend Harry, who sometimes comes over with fun presents!”

When Markle was walking down the aisle, one of the twin boys was filmed jumping up behind the bride with a huge toothless grin.

Another Jewish close friend and wedding guest was fashion designer Misha Nonoo, who is reportedly the one who set the royal couple up on their first blind date. She knows the royal family because she was previously married to Alexander Gilkes, a friend of Princes William and Harry.

In 2016, the designer was named by the National Council of Jewish Women New York as one of its three “Women Who Dared”, a title given to prominent Jewish female figures. Her aunt is Houda Ezra Ebrahim Nonoo, the first female Bahraini ambassador to the United States and the first Jewish ambassador of any Arab country.

When Markle and the prince first announced their engagement, much of the British media incorrectly speculated that she was Jewish. The rumour may have emerged because Markle was previously married to Jewish film producer Trevor Engelson. The couple wed in 2010 but split up in 2013, citing “irreconcilable differences”.

There was no official Israeli or Jewish representation at Saturday’s royal wedding as it was not an official State affair and fell on a Saturday. No politicians attended, including British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Britain’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis would not have attended an event on Shabbat and Erev Shavuot. A spokesman said that fact “was shared with the Royal household a long time before invitations were issued, but my guess is that he would not have been invited anyway”. The spokesman added that since Prince Harry is not in the direct royal line of succession, “the wedding is not a State occasion”.