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We have an explanation for all 3283 xkcd comics, and only 40 (1.2%) are incomplete. Help us finish them!
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| Arthurian Connector |
 Title text: Most coffee shops have a descendant of Sophia of Hanover on staff for this, but just as I was about to ask for help, a previously unknown heir of Uther Pendragon who was ordering a muffin tripped on my laptop cord. |
Explanation
The comic references the Sword in the Stone, which was set up, probably by Merlin, to identify the true heir of Uther Pendragon. Arthur drew the sword from the stone when looking for a sword for his foster brother Sir Kay, making him the King of England. While Arthur was the true King of All England, the English throne is now subsumed into the crown of the United Kingdom.
Since the Act of Settlement 1701, only descendants of Sophia of Hanover, granddaughter of James VI, can inherit the British throne. In the title text, Randall claims that coffee shops have "a descendant of Sophia of Hanover" to help unplug the connector (as they are rightful heirs to the British throne). But this was "unneeded", as someone descended from Uther Pendragon himself helped him unplug the connector.
The Sword in the Stone has also been referenced in 1521: Sword in the Stone, 2164: Glacier, and 2578: Sword Pull.
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