Royal Baby? What's the Big Deal?

The birth of a Royal Heir was welcomed with huzzahs and hoopla throughout the Empire, but on Tuesday in a British pub in the Valley, Americans wondered what all the rumpus was about.

Lugene Oktyabrasaiy, a Yank and a regular at the White Harte Pub, 22456 Ventura Blvd., said he thought reaction to the royal birth was a bit over the top.

“My favorite headline of the day was this British newspaper, ... ‘Woman Gives Birth,’” said Oktyabrasaiy. 

Though Oktyabrasaiy, and other local Americans missed Monday's celebrating, some of the pub's locals like Hunter Peebles, said that he understood why the White Harte Pub was a gathering place for British ex-pats.

“I know that the owners did the same thing for the royal wedding, “ said Peebles. “There is a huge British following here and it does bring business."

The pub sported decorations and publicans announced the news Monday as the crowd waited for the arrival of Duchess Kate Middleton and Prince William's newborn son.

The pub was filled with festive British locals, said bartender Christine Hernandez. They and been preparing for the event 10 days prior to the birth, and when Kate went into labor, that was the  time for the revelry to start, she said.

“Because we are a British pub, we do all the big things,” said Hernandez. “We did the royal wedding and we do anything that is a special occasion. “

Although the turnout wasn’t as big as the royal wedding, news stations such as NBC and ABC came to the pub to record the festivities. 

“We had a party and we had complimentary champagne, and what not," said Hernandez. "We also showed the BBC report.”