Seriously Casual Monarchs

[aruvqan]

When you can't get a table, nosh on pizza instead

I actually like this. Apparently they do not have a huge retinue of hangers upon tailing along.

I can not imagine someone in the US not recognizing the Obamas, or almost everybody in the British Isles and commonwealth countries Queen Elizabeth ...

[Moirai]

The fact that, even if they were recognized, they still wouldn't have been seated reminds me of a local incident.

President Richard Nixon lived in San Clemente, CA, when he was at home, and there is a great, casual seafood joint called The Crab Cooker in nearby Newport Beach. While a sitting president, Nixon decided he wanted to have dinner there. The secret service contacted the owner, who said that although he didn't usually take reservations, he would be happy to save a table for Nixon. But the SS didn't want just a table, they wanted the whole restaurant, for security reasons. The owner explained that there was no way he could shut down his entire place for one night for one guest. The SS were baffled and a bit angry- didn't he know that this was President Nixon? How could he say no to the president? The owner replied that the president was one man, who might eat at his restaurant one time, but his regular customers kept his business going, years in and year out, and he couldn't say no to them. Owner Bob Rubian is a very cool cat.

[Moirai]

Would the average German be expected to recognize the Swedish royals? I live near the Mexican border and wouldn't recognize Felipe Calderon...

[Nava]

Originally Posted by aruvqan

I can not imagine someone in the US not recognizing the Obamas, or almost everybody in the British Isles and commonwealth countries Queen Elizabeth ...

But it did not take place in Sweden, and I can definitely picture several billion people not recognizing that tall gramps and blonde granny as being Juan Carlos de Borbón and Sofía de Grecia. Plus if the place is full, it is; throwing a hissy fit over the laws of physics does not behoove anybody who wasn't raised in a barn.

[Eliahna]

"Whether you're a street sweeper or queen - we just didn't have a table or enough manpower in the kitchen at that time and our hands were tied."

<Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey flashback>
You might be a king or a little street sweeper,
But sooner or later, you'll dine on pizza
</b&tbjf>

[Pitchmeister]

Originally Posted by Moirai

Would the average German be expected to recognize the Swedish royals? I live near the Mexican border and wouldn't recognize Felipe Calderon...

Well, there's a higher chance since Sylvia is actually German (and even from Bavaria, IIRC), but if you don't follow the tabloids, it's really an easy mistake to make. I do like that they just had a pizza on the market instead.

Wouldn't travelling royals have those sorts of things checked out before a trip, though?

[Kolak of Twilo]

Originally Posted by Pitchmeister

Wouldn't travelling royals have those sorts of things checked out before a trip, though?

Not necessarily. From what I understand, most European royals are much less casual about things like this at times than the Windsor-Mountbattens ever would be.

[Nava]

Originally Posted by Pitchmeister

Wouldn't travelling royals have those sorts of things checked out before a trip, though?

If it's an official trip, yes. If it's "hey, we don't really have anything lined up for this weekend, let's go skiing", not completely, specially for those with little kids. When Junior Princess needs potty, Junior Princess needs potty - now!

[matt_mcl]

Originally Posted by aruvqan

I can not imagine someone in the US not recognizing the Obamas, or almost everybody in the British Isles and commonwealth countries Queen Elizabeth ...

Although it's said that Queen Elizabeth, on her way up to Scotland by car, once stopped and popped into a store for something. When she went to pay, the lady told her, "You know, you look awfully like the Queen." She answered, "How very reassuring."

[aruvqan]

Originally Posted by Nava

But it did not take place in Sweden, and I can definitely picture several billion people not recognizing that tall gramps and blonde granny as being Juan Carlos de Borbón and Sofía de Grecia. Plus if the place is full, it is; throwing a hissy fit over the laws of physics does not behoove anybody who wasn't raised in a barn.

True. I just agree that not pitching a fit is very classy. Besides, pizza is nummy =)

[2square4u]

Bah. That's not casual monarchs. That's just having a little bit of bad luck.

This is a casual monarch!

</Crocodile Dundee>

[dropzone]

Originally Posted by aruvqan

True. I just agree that not pitching a fit is very classy. Besides, pizza is nummy =)

I wouldn't bet the farm on that. It was German pizza.

[Icarus]

Originally Posted by dropzone

I wouldn't bet the farm on that. It was German pizza.

Aw, c'mon. It was in Bavaria, that's practically Italy!

[LavenderBlue]

Originally Posted by matt_mcl

Although it's said that Queen Elizabeth, on her way up to Scotland by car, once stopped and popped into a store for something. When she went to pay, the lady told her, "You know, you look awfully like the Queen." She answered, "How very reassuring."

Originally Posted by dropzone

I wouldn't bet the farm on that. It was German pizza.

Are the Germans particularly bad at pizza? My least favorite form of pizza is kosher pizza. I've yet to find a good slice.