A board of Deputies delegation visited the Queen this week to wish her mazal tov on her grandson's engagement and discuss its 250th anniversary.

Board president, Vivian Wineman, senior vice president, Jonathan Arkush, treasurer, Laurence Brass, vice presidents Paul Edlin and Jerry Lewis and chief executive Jon Benjamin were accompanied by the president of the Elders of the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation, Alfred Magnus to a private audience with the Queen at
Windsor Castle on Wednesday.

The meeting comes 250 years almost to the day after a deputation from the Spanish and Portuguese community presented a loyal address to King George III on his accession to the thrown. A copy of that address was presented to Her Majesty, as well as a copy of a history of the Board.

Mr Wineman recited the special prayer for a head of state and deputies wished the Queen mazal tov on the engagement on Tuesday of Prince William to Kate Middleton.

Mr Benjamin said: "We congratulated her and she made a joke about it being about time for the engagement.

"She was very interested in our family backgrounds and asked us all our histories.

"We told her that Prince Philip had kindly corrected a caption on a photograph in an early edition of the history book and she joked that it was cheeky of him."

Mr Wineman said: "We felt enormously honoured to represent the Jewish community on this historic occasion.

"We were received extremely warmly by Her Majesty who took great interest in the items presented and in the history of the Board."

The meeting came at the start of the week marking the height of the Board's 250th celebrations.

The United Synagogue has allocated this Shabbat as a Board Shabbaton, which will feature a special prayer written by the Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks.

On Sunday, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, Shadow Home Secretary Ed Balls, and Scottish Secretary Michael Moore will address a special Board meeting.

And on Tuesday, Middle East peace envoy and former Prime Minister,Tony Blair, and Chancellor George Osborne, will speak at an anniversary gala
dinner to around 500 guests.