Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the secret sealed document and his arrest

[brad465]

Or even having the most reviled and hated man in the kingdom who is not a prison "lifer" being dumped in their patch.

Norfolk Police must be brassed off too. Up until last week they only had the Royals Christmas visit for a couple of weeks a year plus the occasional Royal visit to the county. Now, they've got Mountbatten-Windsor they've got to keep an eye on 24/7.

Technically the monarch has usually stayed at Sandringham for the rest of winter after Christmas, even though the rest of the family leave long before then. Also the police presumably have to patrol the area all year given the royal nature of the estate. However, Andrew being there all year definitely makes their job harder, not least because his almost universal disapproval makes him a magnet for protest/disorder.

 

[KevinBrum12]

Traditions can be broken and the King and the family might prefer to spend the festive period at the Highgrove Estate loved by Charles, or Windsor. Both have the advantage of being miles away from Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor.

 

[JamieL]

The King is allegedly giving Andrew a home, a lump sum and a monthly income. I get the feel his distancing from Andrew is to the minimum extent required to assuage public opinion. Not that public opinion really matters when you have an unelected monarchy.

 

[pdq]

And he is his brother, so no matter what, I'm sure he feels an emotional bond, no matter how weak. I think he'll do what he needs to do to ensure Andrew is comfortable without being extravagant.

 

[AlterEgo]

Not that public opinion really matters when you have an unelected monarchy.

Of course it matters. It is precisely why all of this is happening.

 

[brad465]

The King is allegedly giving Andrew a home, a lump sum and a monthly income. I get the feel his distancing from Andrew is to the minimum extent required to assuage public opinion. Not that public opinion really matters when you have an unelected monarchy.

If monarchy approval falls low enough, then it matters. Not only has low approval of Andrew initiated his effective ex-communication, but paying for the Windsor Castle fire damage purely from taxpayer's money would have been suicide for the monarchy without the Queen personally paying income tax (that she was previously exempt from), as well as Buckingham Palace opening to the public to raise revenue as well.

 

[43096]

And he is his brother, so no matter what, I'm sure he feels an emotional bond, no matter how weak. I think he'll do what he needs to do to ensure Andrew is comfortable without being extravagant.

And by keeping him closer - and dependent - it also lessens the chance of Andrew “doing a Harry” and publishing a book.

 

[Gloster]

But if Charles were just to kick him out and leave him to fend for himself, who knows what he would do? Charles probably feels that by giving him some financial support he will avoid Andrew going rogue. Charles has no doubt imposed plenty of conditions on Andrew regarding his behaviour: we will have to see if he keeps to them or keeps pushing the envelope, deliberately or accidentally. Charles probably reckons that whatever the public may think, it is better to have him inside the palace passing out than outside passing in.

 

[KevinBrum12]

But if Charles were just to kick him out and leave him to fend for himself, who knows what he would do? Charles probably feels that by giving him some financial support he will avoid Andrew going rogue. Charles has no doubt imposed plenty of conditions on Andrew regarding his behaviour: we will have to see if he keeps to them or keeps pushing the envelope, deliberately or accidentally.

It is managing a risk and one big enough to put the idea of a Constitutional Monarchy under threat, but I'd rather have a King Charles or a King William as a Head of State rather than President Starmer or President Farage. Would other people think that way in a polling booth if Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor generated more scandal?

We should also remember Farage is not a fan of either the King or The Prince of Wales because of their commitment to the Green Agenda.

 

[172007]

The King is allegedly giving Andrew a home, a lump sum and a monthly income. I get the feel his distancing from Andrew is to the minimum extent required to assuage public opinion. Not that public opinion really matters when you have an unelected monarchy.

We don't have an unelected monarchy for two reasons:

Reason one has been demonstrated by several coutries, France and Russia being the most notable when it comes to unlecting monarchys. The fact that we have a King is proof enough that for the time being the poplulace tolerates the status quo.

Reason two is simply that god elects the monarch and we are as per scripture obliged if not demanded to obeserve the word and will of god so therefore by proxy we elect the monarch.

 

[The Pelican]

Reason two is simply that god elects the monarch and we are as per scripture obliged if not demanded to obeserve the word and will of god so therefore by proxy we elect the monarch.

There was, of course, a rather famous series of wars and coups over this issue between the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution of 1688- it's generally been agreed since the latter event that the King only holds the throne with parliament's permission.

 

[brad465]

Another dodgy dealing involving Andrew:

Andrew fixed palace visit for firm with £1.4m deal with ex-wife

A company paying Sarah Ferguson was given a private tour of Buckingham Palace while the late Queen was in residence, BBC can reveal.

www.bbc.co.uk

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor arranged a private tour of Buckingham Palace while the late Queen was in residence, for businessmen from a cryptocurrency mining firm which agreed to pay his ex-wife up to £1.4m, the BBC can reveal.
Jay Bloom and his colleague Michael Evers were driven through the palace gates in the former prince's own car after being collected from their five-star Knightsbridge hotel for the visit in June 2019.
Their company, Pegasus Group Holdings, which Mr Bloom co-founded, employed Sarah Ferguson as a "brand ambassador" for a crypto-mining scheme which would lose investors millions when it failed less than a year later.
Mr Bloom, an entrepreneur who had previously set up a failed Mafia-themed museum in Las Vegas, and Mr Evers, a former actor, were met by a greeter and escorted inside the palace.
Mr Evers told the BBC they then met the Queen, although Mr Bloom disputed this.
Both Mr Evers and Mr Bloom were invited by the then-prince to his Pitch@Palace event - a Dragons' Den-style business pitching competition - at nearby St James's Palace later that day, and they dined that evening with Andrew, Ms Ferguson and their daughter Princess Beatrice.
Ms Ferguson was working with Pegasus Group Holdings at the time of the palace visit, while she was Duchess of York, to promote plans to use thousands of solar power generators to mine Bitcoin at a remote site in the Arizona desert.
But the project ultimately failed with only 615 of the planned 16,000 generators acquired and just $33,779 (about £25,000) in cryptocurrency mined.
In April 2021, some investors took legal action, claiming millions of dollars of investor funds were unaccounted for. A tribunal awarded the investors $4.1m, but Mr Bloom is seeking permission to appeal.
The revelations add to growing questions about how Andrew and his former wife have funded their lifestyle, as well as long-standing concerns about their business connections and that the then-prince may have used his royal titles and connections for private gain.
On Thursday evening, Buckingham Palace announced that it was starting the formal process of stripping Andrew of his royal titles and that he would be losing his Windsor mansion, following intense criticism of his links with the billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew and Ms Ferguson did not respond to a detailed list of questions about their involvement with Mr Bloom and the crypto-mining venture.

 

[Harpo]

American interest in holding Andrew to account seems to be increasing.

Members of a US congressional committee investigating the Jeffrey Epstein case have intensified their calls for Andrew Mountbatten Windsor to answer questions about his links to the late sex offender.

Maybe harbouring Andrew on any of his estates might not give Charles the detachment he seeks?

Andrew should answer Jeffrey Epstein questions in US, Democrats say

Members of a panel investigating late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein say the former prince should "come clean".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Peter C]

And another Andrew story this morning:

King wants Andrew to lose last military title, minister says

Defence Secretary John Healy says King Charles has "indicated that's what he wishes".

www.bbc.co.uk

King wants Andrew to lose final military title, minister says​

The Ministry of Defence is working to remove Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's last honorary military rank under the guidance of the King, the defence secretary has said.
John Healey said King Charles had "indicated that's what he wishes".
Andrew, who was stripped of his title as a prince on Thursday, retained his rank as a Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy after giving up his other military positions in 2022.
Healey told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: "This is a move that's right, it's a move the King has indicated we should take and we're working on that at the moment."
Andrew had a 22-year career in the Royal Navy, and served as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War.
This week, he lost his last remaining royal titles and privileges following months of pressure over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has always denied wrongdoing.
Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, royal author and journalist Valentine Low said this latest move, to lose his final military title, will be a "blow" to Andrew.
"Royals, and particularly Andrew, are very proud and determined to hang onto military titles," he said.
"It seems the King is intent on taking absolutely everything away from his brother. It's a flinty eyed ruthlessness he's displaying."

-Peter

 

[edwin_m]

American interest in holding Andrew to account seems to be increasing.

I suspect they don't care much about Andrew but will want to exploit the situation for their own purposes. Trump wants to bury everything about Epstein because he fears that some of what might come out will be about him. Conversely the Democrats will want to pursue every option that might cause that information to emerge.

 

[najaB]

I suspect they don't care much about Andrew but will want to exploit the situation for their own purposes. Trump wants to bury everything about Epstein because he fears that some of what might come out will be about him. Conversely the Democrats will want to pursue every option that might cause that information to emerge.

This, exactly.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

The Guardian is reporting that he is going to be stripped of his Vice-Admiral rank.

Unfortunately my technical inability means I can't provide a link, probably as I am on The Guardian App and not the website.

 

[najaB]

Unfortunately my technical inability means I can't provide a link, probably as I am on The Guardian App and not the website.

Here's a link to the BBC article:

The government is "working to remove" Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's last honorary military title at the King’s request, the defence secretary has said.

John Healey said King Charles had "indicated that's what he wishes".

Andrew, who was stripped of his title as a prince on Thursday, retained his rank as a Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy after giving up his other military positions in 2022.

Healey told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: "This is a move that's right, it's a move the King has indicated we should take and we're working on that at the moment."

Source: BBC News

 

[Gloster]

The Guardian is reporting that he is going to be stripped of his Vice-Admiral rank.

Unfortunately my technical inability means I can't provide a link, probably as I am on The Guardian App and not the website.

And quite right too: he should return to the rank of Commander, which he actually earned (subject to my proviso in #350). The Captain’s and Admirals’ ranks that he was given were honorary and he should lose all honorary titles. He should also retain his South Atlantic and Long Service Medals (even though the latter is also for Good Conduct) as, again, he actually earned them like any other serviceman. His great-grandfather once made known that he felt strongly that even if a VC winner were to be hanged for murder, he should be allowed to wear his medal on the scaffold.

 

[dgl]

If anyone else who was in the military was seen to being them in to disrepute then you'd hope they'd also lose any rank/perks associated with it, although given some of the treatment shown towards women in the military it would seem that Andrew fits right in.

 

[styles]

If anyone else who was in the military was seen to being them in to disrepute then you'd hope they'd also lose any rank/perks associated with it, although given some of the treatment shown towards women in the military it would seem that Andrew fits right in.

I'm not actually sure what the rules (laws?) are on this in the UK, which may even be different for the British Army than for the RAF/RN/Marines/etc.

From some quick digging it seems ranks of lieutenant commander or above carry on into retirement/resignation from the Marines. Andrew was a commander at his highest/last rank (excluding honourary ranks), so upon leaving is entitled to continue using commander.

The question is, after leaving, can the Navy retrospectively say you can no longer use that title? Are there any laws on this or military procedures? I've no clue really!

Mind you, does it really matter? Nobody's going to take him serious if he starts going round calling himself Commander. He couldn't command a Sunday lunch.

 

[AlterEgo]

Ranks are not kept after retirement, the use of the titles is merely custom and practice and a matter of honour rather than legal right.

 

[Yew]

I feel that a letting him keep his rank, and a house on his estate is a smart move from the King, it gives him leverage should Mr Mountbatten-Windsor threaten to talk to the media, or write a book, or do something else embarrassing.

 

[Harpo]

I feel that a letting him keep his rank, and a house on his estate is a smart move from the King, it gives him leverage should Mr Mountbatten-Windsor threaten to talk to the media, or write a book, or do something else embarrassing.

But with the down side of appearing to provide royal protection.

 

[AM9]

But with the down side of appearing to provide royal protection.

Arguably, just sibling protection, - but for many, anything more than a crofters hut is way too much.

 

[Gloster]

I'm not actually sure what the rules (laws?) are on this in the UK, which may even be different for the British Army than for the RAF/RN/Marines/etc.

From some quick digging it seems ranks of lieutenant commander or above carry on into retirement/resignation from the Marines. Andrew was a commander at his highest/last rank (excluding honourary ranks), so upon leaving is entitled to continue using commander.

The question is, after leaving, can the Navy retrospectively say you can no longer use that title? Are there any laws on this or military procedures? I've no clue really!

Mind you, does it really matter? Nobody's going to take him serious if he starts going round calling himself Commander. He couldn't command a Sunday lunch.

As far as I can see he can only be retrospectively demoted from a rank that he actually achieved, i.e. Commander, by being court-martialled. Similarly formally booting him out, i.e. cashiering him, would also require a court-martial. As his misbehaviour was not military and there seems to be no proof that he did anything quite so unpleasant while he was a serving officer, there would seem to be few grounds for such action. Plenty of retired officers have proved to be cads and rotters, but if they are retired the services just have to put up with it.

I suspect that this is one area where Mountbatten-Windsor would stick his toes in and Charles would not want a court case over it. The sensible thing from the family’s point of view would be to let him keep his naval rank, but tell him not to use it except in purely naval situations, of which there probably will be very few.

There is possibly one exception: those in the highest rank (Admiral of the Fleet, Field Marshal and Marshal of the Royal Air Force) are regarded as officers for life, but there aren’t many of them. It would probably be an abuse of process to promote him to this rank just in order to kick him out.

 

[Harpo]

Arguably, just sibling protection, - but for many, anything more than a crofters hut is way too much.

Anything with a roof is too much!

 

[AM9]

Anything with a roof is too much!

Shoebox, he'll be lucky!

 

[brad465]

Snoop Dog once accidentally serenaded Andrew, when he released his hit single with the chorus: "I just want to make you sweat."

 

[Harpo]

Shoebox, he'll be lucky!

In’t middle of road?