Tri-State Royal fans celebrate historic wedding like they're in London

NORWOOD, Ohio - With the long awaited Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton on Friday, some Tri-State royal fans decided to make a party of it, even if they couldn't be in London themselves on Friday.

That brought out over 100 fans and their families to The Pub restaurant at Rookwood Commons in Norwood more than two hours before dawn to get the best seats to watch the Royal Wedding.

As the traditional ceremony played out on TV screens just after 6 a.m., the crowds quickly filled seats all over the restaurant, even in the heated patio area. Many women wore their best outfits, including fanciful hats and even white gloves to the British themed restaurant/bar.

Guests of the Pub ate and drank traditional British food, as restaurant management provided them with free wedding cake and free glasses of champagne to toast the new Royal Couple, who now are now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Brandy Walker came all the way from Monroe to the Norwood restaurant to watch the Royal Wedding with close friends. Walker says, "Oh, just the excitement of it all. It seems that being around would be so cool. I feel like I grew up with Prince William. It's… just so neat. I'm so excited."

Wyoming resident Marla Williams added, "I am so glad to be part of the history for a global world. I want to embrace it. My girlfriend called and said let's all come and go at 6 p.m. and I said OK...that sounds like a real fun time."

For much of the staff of The Pub, the Royal Wedding watch party was a labor of love. They worked the night shift Thursday night, closing the restaurant at 2 a.m. then were back in at 4:30 a.m. Friday for the extra early special opening.

In lieu of wedding gifts, Prince William and Catherine asked that donations be made to charity.
The Pub locations in Norwood and in Crestview Hills asked watch party participants to bring in canned or boxed food for area food pantries.

Even if you missed the watch party on Friday, both The Pub restaurants will continue to accept food donations through the weekend until May 1, 2011.