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

[JamieL]

That's not true. The monarchy exists with the consent of Parliament and it could abolish the monarchy with a single Act. Even Republic know this. https://www.republic.org.uk/abolish_the_monarchy

In order to take their seat in Parliament and draw the MP salary, all MPs must swear:

I swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.

https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/elections-and-voting/swearingin/

Also, take a look at the Parliamentary procedure Erskine May:

No question can be put which brings the name of the Sovereign or the influence of the Crown directly before Parliament,1 or which casts reflections upon the Sovereign2 or the royal family. A question has been altered at the Speaker's direction on the ground that the name of the Sovereign should not be introduced to affect the views of the House.3 Questions are, however, allowed on such matters as the costs to public funds of royal events and royal palaces

https://erskinemay.parliament.uk/section/4502/the-sovereign?highlight=Sovereign

 

[Falcon1200]

I thought he was domiciled in Balmoral?

We don't want him in Scotland! Unless it's at the Bar L.....

 

[brad465]

My favourite joke so far about this is that Andrew probably thought the cop turning up with handcuffs this morning was a birthday strippogram.

 

[AlterEgo]

In order to take their seat in Parliament and draw the MP salary, all MPs must swear:

https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/elections-and-voting/swearingin/

Yeah, and?

Also, take a look at the Parliamentary procedure Erskine May:

https://erskinemay.parliament.uk/section/4502/the-sovereign?highlight=Sovereign

That is parliamentary practice and not the law.

Parliament could abolish the monarchy tomorrow if it so wished. The King is monarch because Parliament consents to it. This is a cornerstone of UK constitutional politics.

 

[JamieL]

Andrew has been released from Police custody. No further info at this point.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been seen leaving a police station in a car after almost 12 hours of questioning by police in Norfolk.

He was photographed in the back seat leaving Aylsham Police station on Thursday evening.

Police have not given any further information at this point.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor released under investigation after arrest – as it happened

Andrew pictured on Thursday evening as police say searches in Norfolk have ended

www.theguardian.com

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Feb 2026 ==

Yeah, and?


That is parliamentary practice and not the law.

Parliament could abolish the monarchy tomorrow if it so wished. The King is monarch because Parliament consents to it. This is a cornerstone of UK constitutional politics.

We can agree to disagree on this. If MPs have to swear an oath of loyalty, Parliamentary procedure bars discussion of the topic, the PM is appointed by the King and the same King would need to approve any laws, they are some formidable hurdles to overcome to abolish the UK monarchy. Which is why such an archaic and outdated institution has survived so long in the UK.

 

[brad465]

The photo of him leaving the police station is going to be the subject of a tonne of memes for a while yet.

 

[styles]

It'll be a huge relief for him. He'll be able to sleep with his perfectly arranged teddy bears again tonight, phew!

 

[Farang]

There's a clip on the BBC website of Jonathan Dimbleby arguing that the arrest of the king's brother doesn't damage the institution of monarchy.

I am posting this from Munich. According to Wikipedia, were it not for the Act of Settlement of 1701 the local his nibs Franz, Duke of Bavaria and head of the House of Wittelsbach, would be ruler of the United Kingdom. Time for another Glorious Revolution?

Or there's always Hubertus Michael Prinz Von Sachsen Coburg und Gotha, but the first paragraph of his Wikipedia entry makes my head hurt.

 

[nw1]

A-Mountz would be his rapper name

Rather like Lizzie-T for Liz Truss.

She was of course an anti-monarchist aged around 20. Can almost imagine her entering the charts of the mid-90s under that name with an updated version of "God Save The Queen". It would, of course, have got to no.40 for one week, then straight out.

 

[brad465]

The Wikipedia entry says that he is the first senior royal to be arrested since Charles I in 1647, and that of a sibling of the Monarch since then-Princess Elizabeth was arrested during Mary I's reign in 1554 (so all the way back to Tudor times).

 

[Ashley Hill]

Having watched the BBC news this evening it appears that the media will not rest until Andrew is a totally ruined and broken man. Being the Kings brother means he is high profile man and therefore big news and ripe for headlines, every editors dream! A lot if ordinary people have done a lot worse and seldom make headline news.
It was interesting that what he was arrested for this morning had nothing to do with Virginia Giuffre but that famous photo of them was repeatedly shown.
The BBC also mentioned that no American has yet been arrested over either case, when can we see Trump hauled over the coals for his involvement with Epstein?

 

[alex397]

Having watched the BBC news this evening it appears that the media will not rest until Andrew is a totally ruined and broken man. Being the Kings brother means he is high profile man and therefore big news and ripe for headlines, every editors dream! A lot if ordinary people have done a lot worse and seldom make headline news.

At least it makes a change from the media going on about immigrants, disabled people and people on benefits. For a change they’re actually focussing on a story about the rich and powerful.

 

[Ashley Hill]

At least it makes a change from the media going on about immigrants, disabled people and people on benefits. For a change they’re actually focussing on a story about the rich and powerful.

Because it makes the headlines. If Lord Joe Soap leaked information it might make P4 of the Financial Times.

 

[Gloster]

Because it makes the headlines. If Lord Joe Soap leaked information it might make P4 of the Financial Times.

If he was a Conservative or Reform lord. If he was Labour he would be all over the front pages and be raised to a close friend/confidante/adviser to the PM.

 

[DerekC]

If MPs have to swear an oath of loyalty, Parliamentary procedure bars discussion of the topic, the PM is appointed by the King and the same King would need to approve any laws, they are some formidable hurdles to overcome to abolish the UK monarchy. Which is why such an archaic and outdated institution has survived so long in the UK.

I don't think the monarchy still exists because of legal obstacles to its abolition. It continues because the "establishment" and the people like it, or perhaps don't like the alternatives. Parliament reflects this and would turn on the monarchy if a majority of MPs that support its abolition were elected. However in the 2020s the idea of electing a politician as president would go down like a lead balloon, so don't worry about it too much!

 

[AlterEgo]

Because it makes the headlines. If Lord Joe Soap leaked information it might make P4 of the Financial Times.

But Andrew is very influential. His mother was our head of state and paid a very large sum of money to settle a sexual assault case while she was Queen.

 

[martin butler]

But Andrew is very influential. His mother was our head of state and paid a very large sum of money to settle a sexual assault case while she was Queen.

I think you have to now question was that the right course of action, by the Queen?, she might have been better advised to have told him, to come clean, and be truthful,

So, what happens next, either nothing, will be said, because those names, that are of interest are outside of British legal jurisdiction, or some very prominent people will be attending police stations with their lawyers

As regards Andrew, he's now finished, I would not be surprised if quietly he leaves the UK and settles to a life of obscurity somewhere in Europe, or as the guest of a friendly middle eastern country, His daughters, will also not be so prominent and can now be viewed as also not having a role in the future when William becomes King,

I wonder if that's why William was recently sent to Saudi? to make arrangements, to ensure they were OK with any relocation plans, With the Yorks suitably silenced and sidelined, that's one half of the problem done, leaving him clear to deal with his brother and his wife, without any fear of a joint Sussex/ York campaign of retribution ?

 

[SuspectUsual]

I think you have to now question was that the right course of action, by the Queen?, she might have been better advised to have told him, to come clean, and be truthful,

We were discussing this in the pub last night. It seems inconceivable to us that the queen didn't know at least some of what Andrew was up to, and yet for years she bankrolled him and seems to have turned a blind eye. Some might say that made her an enabler

 

[nw1]

We were discussing this in the pub last night. It seems inconceivable to us that the queen didn't know at least some of what Andrew was up to, and yet for years she bankrolled him and seems to have turned a blind eye. Some might say that made her an enabler

Queen Elizabeth II? Our country's goddess?

Go wash your mouth out with soap!

 

[43096]

Isn't it time we stripped this man of his names completely? Far too much to type.

Henceforth let him be known as AMW.

TAFKAP is a good alternative!

“The Andrew Formerly Known As Prince”

 

[IanD]

TAFKAP is a good alternative!

“The Andrew Formerly Known As Prince”

He could just use a symbol.

An anchor under a W (as per the other artist formerly known as Prince)

 

[jfollows]

As a republican I’m kind of amused by some of this; I’m pleased that people previously “entitled” and fawned over are brought down to earth, as we all should be, but some of the excessive “the end of the monarchy” comments being made last night are a bit excessive. Nothing’s going to change much once the dust settles, other than for Andrew himself of course.

 

[Bletchleyite]

As a republican I’m kind of amused by some of this; I’m pleased that people previously “entitled” and fawned over are brought down to earth, as we all should be, but some of the excessive “the end of the monarchy” comments being made last night are a bit excessive. Nothing’s going to change much once the dust settles, other than for Andrew himself of course.

Agreed. I think the only thing that could actually bring down the Monarchy would be evidence that either Charles or William were themselves involved in it, and there's no evidence whatsoever of that. And even if Charles was he'd probably just abdicate and leave William the throne.

 

[JamieL]

As a republican I’m kind of amused by some of this; I’m pleased that people previously “entitled” and fawned over are brought down to earth, as we all should be, but some of the excessive “the end of the monarchy” comments being made last night are a bit excessive. Nothing’s going to change much once the dust settles, other than for Andrew himself of course.

Unfortunately I agree that nothing is likely to change - the monarchy is just too entrenched to get rid of it. I doubt things will change for Andrew though, he will continue to sustain a life of luxury compared to normal people paid for by his brother (and indirectly) by us.

 

[styles]

As a republican I’m kind of amused by some of this; I’m pleased that people previously “entitled” and fawned over are brought down to earth, as we all should be, but some of the excessive “the end of the monarchy” comments being made last night are a bit excessive. Nothing’s going to change much once the dust settles, other than for Andrew himself of course.

Public support for the monarchy has hit an all time low, and in fact did so last year, before Andrew's recent revelations.

There will be a tipping point eventually where it becomes untenable.

I am sure this is not it for the monarchy just yet, but Wills is going to have a hard time regaining public support for the monarchy when he takes over. He is, admittedly, a far more sensible chap with seemingly far fewer skeletons in his closet. If he doesn't get a grip on it though, the support will continue to fall asleep the generational divide shifts.

 

[brad465]

Public support for the monarchy has hit an all time low, and in fact did so last year, before Andrew's recent revelations.

There will be a tipping point eventually where it becomes untenable.

I am sure this is not it for the monarchy just yet, but Wills is going to have a hard time regaining public support for the monarchy when he takes over. He is, admittedly, a far more sensible chap with seemingly far fewer skeletons in his closet. If he doesn't get a grip on it though, the support will continue to fall asleep the generational divide shifts.

William is reported to be wanting to pursue some radical reforms to the royal family, including massively reducing the number of working royals. However, he needs Charles to "pass on" in the next few years I think to be able to implement them from a recoverable position.

 

[Howardh]

Is there an alternative between Republican and Monarchy? Asking because I genuinely don't know; think the Royals should go but I don't want a president; thinking more along the lines of two well-known and respected people (non politicians, voted for by us) to represent the UK on the world stage like ERII did?

 

[Buzby]

These possible ‘reforms’ could have been more immediate if he let William succeed rather than claiming his long awaited birthright of seeing his profile on stamps and bank notes for a few years rather than give the stability/longevity that his mother did - something he cannot achieve.

 

[najaB]

Public support for the monarchy has hit an all time low, and in fact did so last year, before Andrew's recent revelations.

There will be a tipping point eventually where it becomes untenable.

I think I've posted this in a previous thread, but my view is that monarchy is the least worst option of the systems we have on offer. An elected head of state is almost certain to owe favours to somebody, and an appointed one has all the drawbacks of an inherited one with none of the pagentry/history.

My ideal system would be a head of state chosen by lottery.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Public support for the monarchy has hit an all time low, and in fact did so last year, before Andrew's recent revelations.

I think that as the money markets might say, Andrew being a wrong 'un was already priced in