Staying up to watch the Royal Wedding?

The Mall, London, England.  Wikimedia Commons.

San Jose area residents are full of excitement over Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding, which represents a love story, even a fairy tale, to many people.   While Californians won’t be getting the day off tomorrow like those in the UK will, there’s nothing preventing us from enjoying the event with our own celebrations.  Many in the Bay Area will be staying up tonight to watch the pre-wedding programs, as well as the wedding itself.  There will even be a sort of play-by-play on the official YouTube channel.  Most local networks will be starting their coverage at 4 a.m. Eastern time, which will be around 2 a.m. Pacific time, so the countdown has begun!  It also looks like local pubs and some restaurants will be opening early for breakfast so that people can come in and watch. 



Whether you have your party tonight, or while watching the many re-plays tomorrow, you can have a lot of fun by snacking on traditional British food – pub grub or tea fare – and displaying any Royal memorabilia that you have, or just anything with the English Union flag on it.  To the joy – or chagrin – of San Jose’s collectors, local shops are selling thousands of English-themed items as souvenirs.  San Jose’s antiques stores have their vintage and antique royal commemorative items on display.  Look-alikes of Kate’s engagement ring were seen at Michael’s craft store in Milpitas.  Britannia Arms in San Jose has mugs with William and Kate’s pictures on them, perfect for holding your tea.  There are even Kate and William tea bags, where the usual tag is a cartoon portrait of Prince William or Kate Middleton from the shoulders up!  So whether you have the kitchy souvenirs or not, why not get out some tea and biscuits and pour yourself a cuppa? 

Copyright 2011, Elizabeth Urbach.

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For more information:
The Official Website of the British Monarchy
The Official Royal Wedding blog
The Royal Household official YouTube channel
“Have an English tea and Royal Wedding viewing party”
“Bring a tea picnic to the Bay Area-local Mostly British Film Festival”
"Review: the Royal Wedding tea from Lisa's Tea Treasures"
"Tea 101: How to brew a pot of hot tea using loose tea"
"Lifetime announces new TV specials dedicated to the Royal Wedding"
"Wedding Central gears up for royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton" 
"Prince William, Kate wedding: pomp, circumstance galore (photos)"
“Official Royal Wedding souvenir program available for download”
Royal Wedding broadcast schedule
“Bay Area restaurants and bars celebrating the Royal Wedding”
“Television immerses itself in Royal Wedding mania”
“The Seasoned Collector: Royal souvenirs vary widely in quality, worth”
NBC Bay Area
"William and Kate: The Royal Wedding" on KQED
“Germans beat Brits at tea, sell KaTEA bags”
Britannia Arms Almaden/San Jose
Britannia Arms Aptos