DAILY MAIL COMMENT: A grave risk that the Monarchy should survive
Were the Royal Family ever brought so low? They have weathered many profound crises down through the years but the arrest of the King’s brother, on suspicion of handing confidential state documents to the world’s most notorious paedophile, plumbs new depths.
While it was being described as the greatest threat to the Monarchy since the abdication of Edward VIII, this is a scandal of a very different hue.
Like the running psychodrama between Charles and Diana and the tawdry Harry and Meghan saga, the abdication was essentially about relationships. But Andrew is accused of base criminality, which puts the House of Windsor in an unprecedented and hugely dangerous situation.
It goes without saying that the former prince is entitled to the presumption of innocence and he denies breaking the law. But documents suggest he sent confidential reports on his commercial missions as a UK trade envoy to Jeffrey Epstein.
Police are searching his Sandringham residence and former home in Windsor. If they can build a credible case against him, he faces the prospect of prosecution by the Crown. Should he be convicted, Andrew could find himself – in a particularly grim irony – housed in accommodation provided by His Majesty’s Prison Service.
It is imperative that the criminal investigation is carried out without hindrance. Everyone is equal before the law and being born into the gilded surroundings of Buckingham Palace should not give any extra protection. The best way to prevent any further damage to trust and faith in our national institutions is by making sure all allegations are properly examined.
Yesterday’s public statement by King Charles, in which he promised the authorities his ‘full and wholehearted support and co-operation’, chimed with broader public sentiment and was issued without undue delay. It served as a welcome acknowledgement that the royals’ long-standing policy of ‘Never complain, never explain’ would have been wholly inappropriate in these circumstances.
Andrew is accused of base criminality, which puts the House of Windsor in an unprecedented and hugely dangerous situation
Charles’s comments show that the Monarchy is prepared to adapt at a time when the very notion of Britishness is increasingly under attack
Charles’s comments also show that the Monarchy is prepared to adapt at a time when the very notion of Britishness is increasingly under attack. This threat comes in various guises, not least in the form of a Left-wing government that is intent on undermining our traditional cultural values.
But the appetite for a republic has never been strong. Despite the best efforts of the shrill republican movement, those who believe Britain would be better off without a monarchy are still in a small minority. The thought of President Starmer – or, indeed, President Rayner – as head of state is hardly an inspiring alternative to what we have.
The Monarchy is a fundamental part of Britain’s identity and it has served us well for nearly a thousand years. While much of the world has seen its fair share of revolutions and civil wars, there have been no such upheavals here since the 1740s.
Yes, these are hazardous times and the King needs to remain closely in touch with public feeling. He is lucky that his wife and son-and-heir enjoy widespread popularity and are skilled in the ways of royal diplomacy.
It is in the interests of everyone who rejoices in being British that the Royal Family should thrive. This is a turbulent storm, but the King’s statement sends out a strong signal that they can come through it.
