‘The Law Must Take Its Course’
King Charles III said he supported the police investigation into his brother Andrew, insisting “the law must take its course”, a clear indication that no favors should be granted.
The UK is a country where even the most senior royals cannot escape the law, it was shown on Thursday, after the king’s brother was arrested on suspicion of “misconduct in public office”. The arrest relates to emails containing privileged government information that he allegedly sent to disgraced and deceased pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein more than 15 years ago as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formally known as Prince Andrew, Duke of York, while serving the British government as a trade envoy.
Although any wrongdoing by Andrew regarding this alleged sharing of secrets or alleged involvement with young women recruited by Epstein has yet to be proven in court, the king already moved to strip Andrew of his position and royal titles last year. On Thursday, after the arrest, the king continued to show his support for the judicial process and said he would cooperate with authorities who, after all, operate on his behalf as head of state.
King Charles III said in a statement today that he felt the “deepest concern” about the allegations and stressed the importance of absolute legal accuracy: “What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this matter is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have already said, they have our full support and cooperation.”
To apparently remove any doubt, the king added: “Let me say this clearly: the law must take its course. »
British newspaper The Daily Telegraph states that the future king and queen, Prince William and Princess Catherine of Wales, supported the king’s declaration.
Prince Andrew, as he then was, had served in the Royal Navy, notably in combat in the Falklands War as a helicopter pilot. He retired from the armed forces in 2001 and took up a new role as special representative for international trade and investment to the then British government. He was photographed walking in New York’s Central Park with Jeffrey Epstein shortly after the financier was released from prison for child sex offenses, provoking a scandal around Andrew that triggered his resignation from his trading post in early 2011.
Incredibly, some media observers said the arrest was unprecedented. This may be the case in recent times, but the political and dynastic consequences of various kings’ troublesome brothers have been the norm in the history of the various royal families in the history of the British Isles and indeed, Wednesday this week was the anniversary of the execution of the Duke of Clarence, the brother of King Richard III, in 1478, allegedly by drowning in a vat of wine.
Police, however, avoided arresting Andrew on such an inauspicious date, by searching his residence the next day: his 66th birthday.
