Constabulary duty

Well, alrighty then—big interesting news out of Blighty: the Andrew formerly known as prince has been arrested “on suspicion of misconduct in office”. Thames Valley Police (TVP) yesterday announced the arrest of “a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk”.

TVP holds jurisdiction for Windsor, the former residence of the former prince (who lost all his titles and his rent-free house last month and is now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor), in Berkshire. Norfolk includes Sandringham, the estate owned by Charles III, the ex-Duke of York’s brother. So everyone in Briton understood who was being nicked.

The charge is believed to be related to information in the latest tranche of Epstein Files, which included emails that looked a whole lot like Mountbatten-Windsor was sending disgraced (and currently dead) financier and trafficker of minors for sex Jeffrey Epstein confidential information related to M-W’s work when he was a trade envoy for Britain.

A few years ago M-W settled a lawsuit by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who reported that he had sexually abused her when she was 17 years old, under the auspices of Epstein and his procuress, Ghislaine Maxwell. (Maxwell is currently serving a federal sentence for some of her work with Epstein, although the Kleptocrat last year had her moved from a high security prison—in line with the crimes for which she was convicted—to a low security one, where she enjoys yoga lessons and puppy visits. Her condition for testifying before Congress is a presidential pardon. Gawd, this timeline.) The settlement was in the millions, although M-W has denied all accusations. It is believed that his mother, the late Queen, provided some to all of the money to settle, because Andrew has never had that kind of dosh.

(You will note that M-W has not been charged with anything related to sex trafficking; it's about financial malfeasance in connection with official duties. However, there's still time to add charges. Please God.)

Well—I mean, it’s exhausting just to write that much.

Charles issued a statement supporting the arrest and “the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities.” Which is putting the best face possible on the matter, as—Lord knows, the royal family has tried to paper Andrew’s peccadillos over for decades. Pretty sure they knew he was taking backhanders from countries he was trade envoying to, and he and Fergie have not exactly been the best face of the monarchy with their feckless lifestyle in general. But email evidence, man—too much at a time when the royals are trying to justify their existence.

Anyway—I’m thinking about the police officers who passed through security at Sandringham, knocked on the ex-prince’s door, showed their warrant cards and politely intoned the British equivalent of the Miranda warning: “You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defense if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”

I mean—when word came down there must have been a mad scramble to be on the deputation. And on the search parties at Sandringham and Windsor. Jeez—these people will be dining out (discreetly) on this event for decades.

So here’s “The Policeman’s Song” from Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. Every once in a while, something arises to make the daily grind worthwhile. Slapping metaphorical cuffs on someone who was for a long time third in line to the throne would qualify.

 

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