Sir Cumference and All the King’s Tens

Soon a large crowd stood in the grassy field outside the castle walls.
“The king will arrive in a few hours,” began Sir Cumference.
“Let’s practice a Royal March of Greeting. Would everyone step smartly toward the center of the meadow?”
Pandemonium broke out. Knees marching high knocked into arms swinging wide. The Knights of the Round Table crashed into each other, falling into metallic heaps.
Lady Di appeared in the middle of this confusion. “I need to know how many guests will be here for lunch, and then how many for dinner,” she called to her husband over the clatter.
Sir Cumference waved his arms. “Attention!” he bellowed. “We need to know how many of you are here.” But everyone kept milling around. Counting the crowd seemed like an impossible job. Sir Kell stepped forward with a suggestion.
“Forming small circles of people might work,” he said. “Each group could count its members and call out how many. Lady Di could then add up the numbers
“Let’s try it,” said Sir Cumference, shepherding guests into groups.
“61…111…58…17…46!” cried out voices in the crowd.
“No good,” said Lady Di, stopping them.
“My head’s spinning just trying to keep track of all those numbers.”