Another Gulf Air tale;
Shiny "new" Tristar, operating DBX-KHI, entire 1st Class taken over by one of a smaller Emirate's Ruler and male entourage....females in the back, of course.
Party eventually get on board, most carrying hooded falcons from which they could not be parted (yes, it did make a mess, but they paid for the clean-up). Ruler sat alone, dignified, falcon on his arm, looking straight ahead, ignoring the commotion as they all settled.
One of our 700 new cabin staff was in charge of 1st Class, and was doing the rounds with the ceremonial coffee, as was done then in 1st Class (perhaps now as well). She hailed from deepest Essex, was the sort of blonde who puts "Bubbly" on her CV, and she had been trained to make a bright and friendly remark to her passengers as she poured for each one.
When she got to the Ruler, he did not offer much encouragement: he just sat there, staring ahead.
She was undaunted; she thought for a second, and then came out with......
"Does yer budgey talk, then?"