(Prince) Andrew

[tikay]

Interesting post Phil.

Slightly at a tangent, & not related to any potential criminal charges, but can there be anything worse than the life of a working Royal? I can't imagine anything worse.

If you think it through, surely not one person here would swap their life with that of a working Royal, the boring stuff they have to endure daily, and it's consequent total lack of freedom, would they?

What use is a posh house in the country & loads of money if you can't enjoy it & be free to do what you want?

[Pokerpops]

We’re all, like it or not, living in a Daily Mail/Express world. (I don’t like it but it’s hard to change it).

AM-W was arrested in the full glare of publicity to satisfy the masses of readers and viewers.

[EssexPhil]

Exactly this.

The Press even ran a story detailing all the different Forces yesterday, and what they were/were not doing in relation to this.

From there, it just takes 1 Chief Constable hoping for advancement to beat the others to the punch. Hence Thames Valley and Norfolk seeking to steal the Met's thunder.

While our King throws his own Brother under the bus. Part of me would love to cross-examine King Charles for a day or two. And he really needs to realise that that prospect is getting very close (not by me!)

[GreekStein]

Interesting post Phil.

Slightly at a tangent, & not related to any potential criminal charges, but can there be anything worse than the life of a working Royal? I can't imagine anything worse.

If you think it through, surely not one person here would swap their life with that of a working Royal, the boring stuff they have to endure daily, and it's consequent total lack of freedom, would they?

What use is a posh house in the country & loads of money if you can't enjoy it & be free to do what you want?

I've always thought the same. Fame seems absolutely horrible. Royal fame one of the absolute worst.

[EssexPhil]

Personally, completely agree. Particularly in this country, where our Press like nothing more than to build someone up, only then to publicly disembowel them.

However, it might be a wisdom thing. Or an age thing. Because most people seem to crave fame. Not for being the best at anything. Just for being famous. That's why we were given Reality TV.

And people get silly about money. Reminded of the great Mrs Merton question to the lovely Debbie McGee:-

"What first attracted you to the Millionaire Paul Daniels?"

[bagel]

reporter to peter crouch .. "what would you be if you had not made it as a professional footballer " ?

crouch .. "a virgin"

[RED-DOG]

I've been on the cusp of greatness for most of my life, but so far I have managed to avoid the spotlight.

[EssexPhil]

I was going to post some fun cross examination stuff. Then I remembered that we live in the sort of Democracy where I could be imprisoned for Contempt of Court

[EssexPhil]

Still fascinated by all this pile-on. Just madness. Just to mention 2 quick things from this week's news:-

1. What exactly is the point of Parliament seeking to disqualify Andrew from being 8th in line to the Throne? This is a 66 year old man. Ahead of him are his 2 40-idd year old Nephews (William and Harry), and their 5 children, aged between 4 and 12. Statistically, nothing is impossible. But this is pretty close. If he ever made Top 3, then worthy of consideration. But that is statistically next to impossible, too.

2. Just want to put what he is alleged to have done into some context. The allegation is that, some time between 15 and 20 years ago, he passed confidential info to 1 of his contacts. Who has also been dead for a long time. Who had little or no business details in the UK. To which we have no knowledge of anything happening as a result.

Let's compare and contrast that with another story this week. The Chagos Islands. Our Press initially reported that the Dementor had just flip-flopped again. But now it is reported that the reason behind it is a UK operational decision not to allow use of joint UK-US bases to be used if/when the US decides to bomb Iran. Something that is rather relevant when the sanctioned Chagos deal included a Joint UK/US base there.

How do we know this? The UK Forces have said (quite rightly) that they never comment on operational matters. But-someone has leaked this to the Press. And the only people with that sort of operational knowledge will be holders of current High Public Office. Not unpaid wasters, who were removed from this sphere of influence more than a Decade ago.

Let's contrast the effect of this leak. Poking the US bear. Potentially costing us £Billions. Making War slightly more likely That happened this week. And done deliberately, either by Govt, Opposition, or someone with an axe to grind. Not blaming our Press for this-they report on what they are given. At the other end of the scale, who topped off that Photographer where Andrew was being held?

While the distraction tactic works wonderfully well.

[RED-DOG]

Perhaps they want to be seen to be using a very big stick on someone who is perceived to have spent most of his life enjoying enormous carrots.

[EssexPhil]

Depends on who you mean by "they". Do you mean:-

1. The Police? This is being done in this way for personal advancement
2. The Public? Yes, envy sells Papers. In much the same way as when the News of the World used to print every detail of lurid sex stories.
3. Andrew has led a privileged life, undoubtedly. Some of that has been funded by the Taxpayer. But more of ot-such as the Trade Envoy-was largely paid for by his Mummy. Don't know what she knew when she agreed to his removal in 2011. Sure there are reasons for that-including that she was more loyal (and discreet) to her Family that various others
4. Charles. The Police can't go in mob handed to Sandringham without briefing him first. Why exactly did he allow this to proceed in this way?

[RED-DOG]

I don't really know who I mean by "they" What is the collective noun for those in power, "The establishment?"

The police said Charles wasn't briefed before the arrest. Do you think that's a lie? (Personally, I think it is)

[RED-DOG]

What a thrill it must be to take a career-defining photograph.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93wl4kp671o

[RED-DOG]

I wonder how he managed to get focus on Andrew rather than the front seat occupants and how he avoided glare from the flash?

[Karabiner]

I wonder how he managed to get focus on Andrew rather than the front seat occupants and how he avoided glare from the flash?

But still got red-eye