- Awards
- 52
The scandal surrounding Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and his recent arrest exposes a fundamental flaw in having a monarchy: no matter how badly its members behave, we are stuck with them for life.
Had Andrew been the first-born child of Elizabeth II, he would now be king, with no democratic mechanism to remove him as our head of state, regardless of his conduct. In a republic, an elected president who behaved in this way could at least be voted out at the end of their term.
Instead, the Royal Family has protected Andrew for years, closing ranks and deflecting scrutiny. In time, it may become apparent just how much the family knew about his behaviour and how deliberately they chose to ignore it.
This sordid affair reveals a deeper truth: the monarchy does not work for the public. It believes it is untouchable. The sooner we abolish this undemocratic institution, the better.
Had Andrew been the first-born child of Elizabeth II, he would now be king, with no democratic mechanism to remove him as our head of state, regardless of his conduct. In a republic, an elected president who behaved in this way could at least be voted out at the end of their term.
Instead, the Royal Family has protected Andrew for years, closing ranks and deflecting scrutiny. In time, it may become apparent just how much the family knew about his behaviour and how deliberately they chose to ignore it.
This sordid affair reveals a deeper truth: the monarchy does not work for the public. It believes it is untouchable. The sooner we abolish this undemocratic institution, the better.
