Community Corner

An Invitation to Watch the Royal Wedding

In Half Moon Bay, a British Pub will not close, serving tea and crumpets to those who'd like to watch the ceremony at 3 a.m.

More than half of British natives are expected to watch.  The BBC is sending more than 1,000 producers, technicians and news readers to cover the event.  Canada has issued Royal Wedding postage stamps.  Elton John and David Beckham will be in the audience. 

Today's forecast in London is said to be "filled with passing clouds, refreshingly cool." But Friday morning, there's a chance of morning showers. Does Mother Nature dare rain on this parade?

Across the pond, if you're along the California coast in Half Moon Bay, is precipitation likely? Probably not. Perhaps some typical morning fog. But at 3 a.m. Friday morning, the forecast inside Cameron's Restaurant and Inn is for fun and frivolity.

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"We’re a British Pub; someone’s got to fly the flag. Royal wedding fever seems to be catching on, and I thought it would be a fun promotion to do," said Cameron Palmer. He is the owner of Cameron's on Highway 1 in Half Moon Bay. Cameron's will not close Thursday night, and invites the curious. "We'll be here, we'll be here in the morning, showing it on TV at some ungodly hour, and we'll see how many people show up. I don't know. I'll be here, we'll be here, and we'll be serving breakfast."

Of course, tea and crumpets will be the order of the—night—between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. "Legally, we're supposed to stop serving at 2 a.m., so my question was, 'What time am I allowed to start serving?' I believe the official answer is 6a.m., at least that's what I was told by a local police officer. People will just have to be happy with hot tea that night."

Find out what's happening in South San Franciscowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Palmer has already adorned the Pub with signs of royalty. Inside, there's a congratulations book guests can sign that will be sent to Prince William and Kate Middleton. A table is reserved and off limits to anyone other than the royal couple. A bedroom upstairs waits just in case some surprise guests show up. And then there's the 'just married' sign on the British taxi cab parked outside. It's that sign that brought Brits Paul Tilt and Hayley Lovett to Cameron's parking lot Wednesday afternoon.

You see, Paul and Hayley are on their honeymoon. They, like Prince William and Kate Middleton, met nine years ago. They, like Prince William and Kate Middleton, are 28 and 29 years old.

"We're on our honeymoon, and we've been up and down the coast seeing all the British Pubs, and all the stuff that's being done for the wedding, whatever, and we sort of thought we'd pop by, to see what's going on," says Paul. "It feels a bit different being out of the country when it's happening;  you see all the news, all the events, all the build up back home. It's nice and warm back home. It's a bit sad to be missing it, but we're on our honeymoon, so what the heck, we may stop by and watch it."

Which brings us back inside Cameron's. Friday night, a royal cake replicating the Royal cake will be cut by a replica of Queen Elizabeth around 9 p.m. as the pub festivities continue. "Actually," says Palmer, "that's my mom.  My mom and dad are going to dress up like the King and Queen." Thomas, at Moonside Bakery in Half Moon Bay, is the baking the cake. A Beatles-tribute band is booked for the night.

There's one more potential bonus for guests who show up. "If your name is William or Kate Elizabeth, come on down," says Palmer. "I'm going to buy you a pint of Guinness or a glass of champagne."

But be careful. You don't want to find yourself arse over elbow that night.  Because somebody might say you've gone barmy. And get cheesed off.

Patch contacted other British Pubs along the Peninsula in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and San Mateo. Cameron's appears to be the only Pub that will stay open after hours early Friday morning. Half Moon Bay Patch local editor Kristine Wong will be at Cameron's for the live event, and will post her story shortly thereafter at http://halfmoonbay.patch.com/.


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