Women gave the monarchy decency. Has men’s indecency forever soiled the crown?

February 20, 2026 — 3:45pm

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The shame is of titanic proportions. Members of the royal family aren’t meant to appear slumped in the back of cop cars, leaving police stations, caught by cameras looking stricken in flashlight. In fact, one of the underpinnings of the monarchy is that monarchs are above the law, not subject to it, based on the understanding that their behaviour is impeccable and worthy of respect. Even their offspring benefit from this sense of somehow floating above commoners.

Which is why it is even more shocking when their reputations are dirtied by allegations of having sexually abused minors (individually and in an orgy) and a close association with a billionaire who orchestrated a global sex-trafficking paedophile network, even trading official secrets with them.

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, previously the entitled Prince of (Previous) Impunity, has been arrested and investigated over suspicions of misconduct in public office. This comes after the release of millions of Epstein file documents prompted accusations that, when he was a British trade envoy, he shared confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein. He has now been released after questioning, and we wait to see if charges will ensue.

Of course, Andrew – while he somehow remains eighth in line to the throne – is not a monarch. He is both the son and the disgraced brother of one. As Keir Starmer said, Andrew may yet face the full force of the law, like of the king’s subjects.

To fully understand the extent of the shame, we need to understand the history of the monarchy. To find royals who have last been arrested – and actually executed – we need to go back to the bloody 16th and 17th centuries. Both Mary,........

© The Sydney Morning Herald