 GEOG: One of the characters quips that the King claims he can see  Germany with his telescope. This was probably a reference to the  line of Kings, starting with George I, that came from Hanover and  served as both Kings of Great Britain and Electoral Princes of  Hanover. However, both British citizens and the King would have  referred to what we call Germany as either Hanover or Prussia, since  Germany did not exist until 1871.