It's 1867, and Ottoman Sultan Abdülaziz is making history as the first sultan ever to embark on a grand tour of Europe, a real turning point in the Tanzimat era, when the Ottoman Empire was starting to embrace modernity. He's welcomed with all the pomp and circumstance in London, and at this glamorous ball in Buckingham Palace, his young, open-minded nephew Şehzade Murad (who'd later briefly become Sultan Murad V) is twirling around in a lively waltz with the graceful Princess of Wales, Alexandra of Denmark, a real stunner from Danish roots. Meanwhile, the conservative Abdülaziz, who admires Western tech but sees mixed dancing as downright scandalous, is watching the whole thing with growing unease. It's the ultimate culture clash: Ottoman traditions bumping up against Victorian social freedoms! The anecdote comes from Turkish memoirs and history books, like those by historians Murat Bardakçı or Yılmaz Öztuna, drawing on eyewitness accounts. It fits perfectly with Abdülaziz's hot-headed personality and highlights the empire's internal struggles, while Murad is soaking up the Western vibe, his uncle is grappling with serious culture shock. English sources like The Times rave about the dance without mentioning any drama. So, when Sultan Abdülaziz sees his nephew dancing so closely with the Princess of Wales, he's said to have whispered: "Biz burada boynuzlu pezevenk değiliz, söyleyin şu karıyı bıraksın" – "We're not a bunch of cuckolded pimps here, tell him to let go of that woman!" [Image generated by AI]