Urban myth. I would more expect he would have ordered from Londons best not an obscure experimental maker located in the backwaters of upstate New York. HS had not only an ego that was oversized but he would have been expected to keep up appearances for domestic considerations. His status was very much up in the air st this time so leaving the country was unlikely. Once out of the country the Queen of Kings would not have allowed him to return. She had forced out his cousin who had been desiganated as the next King of Kings by the late King of Kings. He was deemed too progressive by the conservatives. She was much more consertive and much more religious than HS was and had firm backing of a majority of the royal line and ruling class.
