Britain: What Andrew’s arrest means for the monarchy | EUROtoday

“A nightmare”: The British royal household is as soon as once more shaken by the scandal surrounding the previous Prince Andrew and his involvement within the Epstein scandal. In a first-of-its-kind operation, British police arrested the king’s 66-year-old brother for nearly twelve hours and accused him of misconduct in public workplace. He was launched once more within the night. What does this imply for the monarchy? An overview.

How uncommon is the arrest?

To discover a case of comparable dimensions within the circles of the British royal household, you need to leaf via the historical past books for a very long time. There is speak of an “unprecedented” incident within the British media. Accordingly, the ex-prince who was shot is the primary high-ranking royal in fashionable historical past to be arrested.

So far, it has solely occurred as soon as {that a} sibling of a reigning monarch was arrested, explains Sky News commentator and the Aristocracy skilled Alastair Bruce: In 1554, Elizabeth Tudor was arrested, who later grew to become Elizabeth I. According to a number of British media, a high-ranking member of the royal household was final arrested virtually 380 years in the past, specifically King Charles I in 1647.

Now, lots of of years later, the arrest of the ex-prince is “the worst thing” that might have occurred to the crown, Bruce is for certain. After all, the king is “the person in whose name the police officers do their work, and now his brother is the subject of legal proceedings.”

What is the connection between Andrew and Charles?

Even whether it is in the end unclear what’s going on behind the closed doorways of the palace: the king’s relationship together with his youthful brother and the eighth in line to the British throne couldn’t be worse. Charles does not wish to have something to do with Andrew’s alleged soiled dealings, which is why he disowned the ex-prince months in the past.

“Let me be clear: the law must take its course,” Charles mentioned in his assertion after the arrest. He as soon as once more assured that he would assist the police of their investigations at any time ought to this be crucial.

Because of his involvement within the scandal, Andrew had already misplaced all honors, navy ranks and titles. He is not a prince, only a commoner. He additionally needed to transfer out of his property on the grounds of Windsor Castle as a result of his brother had ordered this.

What does this imply for the British monarchy?

Andrew has undoubtedly been the best burden on the British monarchy for years. Nobility consultants now agree: it’ll take a really very long time for the royals to recuperate from this setback. Andrew’s arrest is “probably the worst nightmare” for the royal household, says former BBC correspondent Jennie Bond on Sky. According to British media, the palace was mentioned to haven’t any information of the upcoming arrest.

Former BBC Royals reporter Peter Hunt has related phrases, in keeping with the PA information company. “The arrest of the eighth in line to the British throne is seismic. Senior royals now find themselves in uncharted waters for which they are ill-equipped.” According to Hunt, in addition they need to reply questions on Andrew “and be held accountable” – a circumstance that was beforehand unknown to the household.