Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for April 26, 2011

I wonder if Zonker is too stoned to notice the dropped hint.

Probably. There is at least one “Bureau de Change” in every part of central London, including all of the major train stations. It’s almost impossible not to notice one by every one of the major tourist attractions.

And to be TRULY proper, it needs to be pounds sterling, i.e. coins in various precious metals.

I don’t think a bribe - in whatever denomination - will cut much ice here.

‘Sterling’ hasn’t implied precious metal content for a long time - pound coins are Cu/Zn/Ni alloy.

What a pair! Zonker and Sam…

If Zonker had had an invitation (or even vaguely read anything about the event) he’d know the dress code was lounge suit, morning suit or uniform - not dressing up as a barrister.

He seems to have got the ‘twit’ part of ‘upperclass twit’ nailed…

And while we’re nitpicking, it seems unlikely that a duke or bishop in mufti is acting as an usher so what’s with the ‘Your Grace’ ;-)

Remember when greenbacks were gladly accepted throughout the world? Zonker probably would have been given directions to the Chunnel.

Remember when greenbacks were gladly accepted throughout the world?

Um, no, never in the UK, that I know of :-)

A few UK shops will take Euros as well as pounds nowadays.

…the royal pain in the ‘ass’……

Where does Zonker score pot in the UK?!

Gee, you’d think a few greased palms would get them in the door. Who do you have to be to get invited by Prince William, a murderous dictator from Bahrain or Swaziland?

I love Zonk’s wig and outit! It’s so “him”! Sam’s outfit is perfect for her. It makes her look a little older than she is, which is exactly what she wants.. And addressing the Usher as “your grace” may be Sam’s way of “tipping” him. Who doesn’t feel an ego charge, and more likely to give the “tipper” more consideration, when being giving more importance than deserved? It’s done all the time. I’d call it a “social gratuity”.

The whole point of everything is that Zonker is in the wrong century… he has romanticized, in that vacuous head of his, all of what upper English society and royalty are about, therefore, he and Sam are totally out of character.

Personally, I love the hat that Sam is wearing. Yes, makes me think of Camilla, so it goes perfectly with the dress, so she and Zonker are two of a kind and match perfectly!

While this is having it’s moments, in order for the scenario to approach the sheer level of coolness that is Firefly’s “Shindig” episode, Zonker has to be challenged to a duel at dawn with live steel. Or maybe doobies. The challenged party gets to pick the weapon, right?

Also, Sam is definitely dressed appropriately to step on cookies. ;-7

Is this the cute little girl Z took surfing when she was about 6 months old?

Spam - its certainly high time that whatever outmoded protocol which says that all crowned heads have to be invited was stuffed.

Maybe Zonker could have the prince of Bahrain’s seat, since he’s had the sense to decline?

I don’t get it. We fought a war to rid ourselves of this anachronism. It must be that Princess fantasy little girls grow up with, guess they never get over it.

I thought you fought a war on the more prosaic but far more important issue of ‘no taxation without representation’.

If you wanted rid of it, why have you sent nearly 1000 journalists to London to cover the event?

How could “Lord Zonker” not know about the British currency?

I fear Samantha will have a better chance of infiltrating the wedding without her “guardian”…