John MacDonald: This could be exactly what the monarchy needs

The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor tells me several things, one of which is how much the late Queen really dropped the ball on this one. And that’s putting it politely.

She was the one who protected him when all the stories started to emerge. She was the one who, apparently, helped him out with some of the hush money paid out to one of his accusers.

Which only fueled the impression - rightly or wrongly - that the Royal Family thought it was above everything and everyone else.

Which is why I think this development is a brilliant opportunity for the monarchy.

Because this takes the monarchy down a peg or two, which can only be a good thing in the public’s eyes.

King Charles obviously sees an opportunity. He hasn’t been slow in coming forward, saying “the law must take its course”.

We’ve also got the likes of Major General Alastair Bruce, who is a historian and a royal watcher for Sky News, saying that this is “the most shocking day for the British Crown, to have a former prince of the blood arrested”.

Other commentators are describing the arrest as “extraordinary”, “unprecedented”, “spectacular” and a “body blow”.

Whether it is a body blow remains to be seen. Because these developments overnight show that the monarchy is just as answerable as the rest of us. Which is no bad thing, is it?

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from news Talk ZB.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
You know the arrest of Andrew mount Batton. Windsor tells
me several things. One of them is how much the
late Queen really dropped the ball on this one. And
that's pointing it politely. I mean, she cocked it up.
She was the one who protected him when all the
stories started to emerge. She was the one who apparently

(00:35):
helped him out with some of the hush money paid
out to one of his accusers. And all that did
is it fueled the impression that the royal family thought
it was above everything and above everyone else until now,
which is why I think this list development. I think
it's a brilliant opportunity for the monarchy because this takes

(00:56):
them down a peg or two, doesn't it, which can
only be a good thing in the public size. So
here's how things played out. Shortly after eight o'clock Thursday morning,
UK time. When a small fleet, it's how they're describing it,
A small fleet of unmarked police cars pulled up at
wood Farm, on the King's private state at Sandringham, where

(01:18):
Andrew's been living, and all these Plaine clothes cops that
stepped out. The weather wasn't much chop Apparently it was
drizzling inside. They're saying it's possible that his lordship wey
she doesn't have titles now ah, They're saying it's possible
that old mate was sitting down to a birthday breakfast
because he turned sixty six the day he was arrested.

(01:41):
There are some cars coming up the driveway. Maybe my
goose is cooked after all, who knows what he thought
what he said. So the police they searched Sandringham as
well as Mountbatten Windsor's former home at the Royal Lodge
in Great Windsor Park, and he was taken into custody
and in just the last half hour I've heard that
he has been released. Now King Charles obviously sees the

(02:04):
pr opportunity he hasn't been and coming forward, giving the
copses full backing, saying this morning that quote the law
must take its course. Now look, I know it's early days,
but this is a bit of background. Anyone found guilty
of misconduct in public office can face life in prisons.

(02:25):
The serious stuff, which is why we've got the likes
of Major General Alistair Bruce, who was a historian. He's
also a royal watcher for Sky News. We've got him
saying today that this is quote, the most shocking day
for the British Crown to have a former Prince of
the Blood arrested. End of quote. He says Andrew's arrest

(02:48):
is about as critical as the institution could face. They're
his words. Other commentators are describing the arrest as extraordinary, unprecedented, spectacular,
a body blow. Let me just work through some of
the comments. I mean, is it extraordinary and unprecedented. It's rare,

(03:11):
but not unprecedented in modern times anyway. In sixteen forty seven,
Charles the First was arrested after trying to have five
members of Parliament arrested without approval from the House of Commons.
Are the royal arrests Mary Quina Scott's fifteen sixty eight
and Berlin. So you know, in modern times, yeah, it

(03:32):
is unusual. As for it being described spectacular, yeah it
probably is. Two But this claim, this is the bit
I'm that I want to dig into this claim that
it's a body blow for the royal family. I disagree. Well, potentially,
I reckon that if the Royal family sticks with this

(03:53):
line that the King has come out with. Then you know,
the most important thing in all of this is the
integrity of the police investigation. Then I reckon the demise
of Andrew windsor mount Batten could be one of the
best things that's ever happened to the royal family because
these developments they show that the monarchy is just as
answerable as the rest of us. What's wrong with that?

(04:15):
But how do you see it? What's your reaction to
the former prince being arrested and do you think it
is a body blow to the monarchy as some are saying,
or do you think it could be or do you
think it will be a good thing for them.

Speaker 1 (04:28):
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