Prince Andrew’s arrest unleashes dangerous ideology of consequences

Lawyers for Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor are warning of a “dangerous precedent” in British justice: namely, that wealthy, well-connected people might actually have to answer for their alleged behaviour in public, not just in private rooms with hefty settlement cheques and congratulatory after-dinner speeches about how badly they were treated.

For decades Andrew has enjoyed all the trappings of aristocratic life – palaces, security details, VIP car parks – yet many of those same privileges have served, until now, as an implicit get-out-of-accountability-free card. A photo opportunity here, a “charity” appearance there, and any lingering questions about his judgment or associates could generally be filed away with another press release.

That comfortable arrangement began to leak when the Justice Department’s massive release of Jeffrey Epstein documents hinted at a connection between the ex-royal and the late convicted sex offender.

Now, on suspicion of misconduct in public office, Andrew has been arrested, questioned for around 11 hours and released under investigation. Police have searched his former residences as part of inquiries sparked by emails allegedly showing he passed sensitive government-related material to Epstein while acting as a UK trade envoy.

The arrest has raised the question in the 1% circle: if multimillion-pound settlements and strategic reputational management no longer guarantee immunity from public scrutiny, the implications could be profound. Other affluent figures might find themselves subject to the same processes as everyone else, and have to face consequences for their actions. There are fears this could clog up the courts with defendants accustomed to private solutions.

The Palace has maintained that the law must take its course, a phrase rarely deployed unless events have strayed beyond the reach of discreet negotiations. Critics argue this is simply accountability catching up. Supporters insist it is an overreaction to old associations.