Five days is like a decade in politics right now. Yesterday, the likelihood that the royal family will be dragged into real peril by Andrew Montbatten-Windsor (AMW) became very clear. That is because the criminal investigation into his conduct as trade envoy is now becoming very uncomfortable for the palace, but as I wrote only five days ago:
- There has been no apparent investigation of AMW's behaviour by the King or his staff of which we have been made aware, or the findings of which have been made public, indicating:
- A curious lack of curiosity on his part.
- A desire to cover matters up.
- A wish to hide the late Queen's involvement in all this, given that she provided the £12 million settlement AMW paid with regard to this matter.
- A desire to maintain the pretence that there is a perfect "royal family", which we can very clearly see is utter nonsense.
- All of this suggests that the King is revealing incompetence on this issue to a degree that matches that of Keir Starmer's.
- Charles has no viable successor. The monarchy is an institution, the eugenic foundation of which is repugnant and which can only have contributed to the attitude of AWM (and maybe others within it) that there are "disposable people" who were available to be exploited.
The bizarre announcements from the Palace and the office of the Prince of Wales yesterday only reinforced the sense that they are deeply detached from reality.
How long can royalty last, given this? Longer than Starmer, I admit. But how much longer? Not that much more, unless they offer a truly radical transformation.
The old line of "no apologies, no explanations" and, let me add, only "voluntary transparency" has to go.
Unless they become truly accountable, they cannot survive now. And the problem is, with transparency, the myths that sustain them will be shattered. It's an each-way, heavily odds-on bet that their days are numbered.
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Given the allegations made about AMW and that some took place on HMY Britannia clearly senior members of teh Navy & the Royal Household must have known what was going on and either Senior Royals were told or if not why
I think the monarchy’s days have been numbered for a while and possibly the most damaging thing about this whole episode is the light it shows the former queen. Many saw the queen as the last bastion of decency despite the failures of her various children. Her protection of Andrew down to a £5 Million pay off call of this into question. The monarchy requires questioning acceptance of their lifestyle and their being above the war. Something younger Brits no longer agree to along with increasing numbers of us older Brits. The firm are gone deaf to this and have no idea how out of touch they are with public opinion. William may make it to the throne, but the lavish lifestyle at public expense has to go.
I think it was £12 million.
You are right.
“A wish to hide the late Queen’s involvement in all this, given that she provided the £12 million settlement AMW paid with regard to this matter.”
I agree with you 100%. QEII’s involvement is the matter being protected. The “Crown” or the person wearing a crown would not pay a £12 million settlement if guilt is not the main reason.
This not like a dispute over a contract with the government or a private party where a private contractor is being sued for £100,000,000 and legal fees will be greater than £10 million to prove innocence so they agree to a £12 million settlement with no further liability to make the problem go away.
In seeking to distance himself from the stench around AMW, William goes for a jolly to Saudi Arabia. These people really are completely and utterly clueless and without shame.
I sincerely hope that you are right.
They will probably stagger on – maybe despite themselves – becoming a slimmed – down ‘bicycling monarchy’ – as in some European countries. Along with other elements of British decline – ‘we’ probably can’t face up to the explicit choices and upheavals involved in changing the constitution .
Stripping the monarch of the still substantial behind the scenes powers that the/she still has could well occur .
But will it? After all he is divinely appointed and he heads his own religion . All politicians, judiciary, armed forces, police, swear and oath of allegiance. He has his shadow government structure which comes out around the coronation – with the Lord Lieutenants across the land etc etc.
Can you ever see the oath of allegiance be ‘to the people’ rather to him and his ‘heirs and successors’?
“After all he is divinely appointed and he heads his own religion.”
And William is rumored to be nonreligious if not downright agnostic.
One could not make this stuff up if one tried.
I can’t see the British royal family adapting to such a lifestyle. I assume the continental royals previously had much less lavish lifestyles. I don’t think other European countries have the kind of aristocracy we have, or our segregated public school system that enables the upper classes to grow up totally divorced from normal British life.
The Pythons have something to say about this!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QVVV6AfFZfI