OPINION: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has as an alternative suffered what should be a historic humiliation for a member of the British Royal Household, writes Chris Riches.
The arrest of the King’s brother is the Royal Household’s greatest disaster since Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s enduring friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was first uncovered.
This morning on BBC Breakfast PM Sir Keir Starmer urged the ex-Duke of York to inform US authorities all he knew about Epstein’s private life and enterprise dealings – stressing Andrew has “an obligation” to disclose all.
However no-one anticipated that minutes later we’d see unmarked police automobiles descend on Wooden Farm, on the King’s Sandringham Property – Andrew’s short-term new house – and the previous prince arrested.
Within the proud historical past of our nation’s Royal Household the dramatic arrest is unprecedented.
READ MORE: Police assertion in full as Andrew arrested on his birthday
Police raid Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s home earlier at the moment (Picture: Bav Media)
Pictures from this morning confirmed officers arriving on the property (Picture: Bav Media)
On what ought to have been a day of modest celebration on his 66th birthday, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has as an alternative suffered what should be a historic humiliation for a member of the British Royal Household.
Andrew has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace and is in police custody. The previous prince has repeatedly denied he has executed something fallacious and his arrest under no circumstances signifies any wrongdoing. Nonetheless, at the moment proves that every one royals are nonetheless topic to the legal guidelines of the land.
Thames Valley Police confirmed the arrest on Thursday following allegations made in opposition to the previous prince after the discharge of thousands and thousands of pages of recordsdata associated to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
It comes after Thames Valley Police mentioned they had been assessing a grievance over the alleged sharing of confidential materials with now deceased Epstein by the previous prince, when in his official function as a UK Commerce Envoy.
To be questioned by police on any matter for a royal who’s the brother to the King is a ground-shattering humiliation – each for Andrew and for the remainder of his household.
However to be taken away beneath arrest and held in custody pending an interview goes past humiliation.
Wooden Farm on the Sandringham Property (Picture: Bav Media)
Andrew was stripped of a lot of his titles following the discharge of the Epstein recordsdata (Picture: AFP through Getty Photographs)
Whether or not police finally shut the matter or proceed their probe additional, simply by being arrested and held Andrew’s fragile repute is irrecoverable.
And because the breaking story develops you surprise how – when the mud settles – this momentous second in historical past will have an effect on the general public’s opinion of the Royal Household as a complete.
Final week the King made it clear that he and his workers had been prepared to help UK police in any approach, relating to plenty of allegations that got here out of the US Division for Justice’s publishing of thousands and thousands of emails from Epstein.
His Majesty the King spoke of his “profound concern” at allegations “in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct” and so they stand able to assist Thames Valley Police “if we’re approached.”
In the meantime, William and Kate additionally declared they had been “targeted on the victims” of the late US billionaire Epstein.
Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, and already devastated daughters Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, shall be watching this horror present unfold with tears of their eyes.
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The daughters have slowly been dragged into the mire by seeing their identify talked about within the Epstein Recordsdata – usually in emails despatched by their very own mom Fergie.
Now they’re helpless to observe the ultimate dramatic fall from grace of the as soon as noble Home of York.
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