Andrew - continuing his effort to end the Monarchy Part 3

[simpsonthecat]

Here we are

Previous thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_royal_family/5487636-andrew-continuing-his-effort-to-end-the-monarchy-part-2?page=20&reply=150676336

And the way the RF dish out honours, awards, gongs at the drop of a hat..mostly to each other.

I also find the arrest a bit odd. Surely someone in his position (brother of KC) would be invited to attend the local cop shop with his legal eagles. Making a drama out of his arrest appears to be a smoke screen but what, in particular, is it distracting us from?

SF checking into "world's most expensive spa", read the fucking room love.

I'm getting worse by the minute with all this, but word on the street is the cost of the spa was borne by another of her male benefactors.

I'm getting like Gossipy Gertie here, but honestly this saga is beyond satire now and I can't help myself anymore. My standards have gone to pot altogether.

I don't think it's a smokescreen but more the police covering their arses because they've been exposed for consistently saying ' nothing to see here' regarding any Epstein related thing. I think they wanted to be seen doing something.

My understanding is he was arrested, as opposed to being "invited" to attend for an interview, was to avoid giving him the chance to destroy evidence. The police would have needed to obtain a warrant from a magistrate before the arrest, and the fact it was granted is an indication as to the severity of the charges.

Edit: Spelling

If you're referring to MBE's etc - these are government decisions that they ask the RF to confer.

@myrtleWilson
Do you know what
At this stage I don’t care - the whole scandal just beggars belief.

My feelings exactly.

This and Mandelson has completely destroyed all trust in all of our public institutions.

I think the loss of trust has been happening for a while.

Think about the mess the NHS is in, the MPs expenses scandal, the corruption in contract awards during Covid, Boris partying during lockdown, a prime minister that was a proven liar (Boris again), an adulterer as head of the church (Charles), the rapists at the Met, the police inaction during the grooming gangs scandal, the post office scandal, official enquiries that come too late and achieve nothing...

But i see what you mean, I think for this sordid affair to tarnish the monarchy is almost like British institutions hitting rock bottom. Hopefully things can only get better.

TBH the contrast between how Mandelson was dealt with (police and politicians acted swiftly, decisively) and the tiptoeing around Andrew, over very similar allegations, was getting too obvious to ignore

Yes I agree with everything you say. Boris dragged us all down.

Well said!

I think the ‘cross of the order of the sock’ type honours are decided by the Royals.

The monarch and immediate circle clearly have some influence or the higher ranks wouldn’t be so bloody obedient to their wishes. ‘Don’t rock the boat’ seems to the culture.

The Queen had her own Orders for sure. That ribbon and portrait brooch malarkey was one of them, from memory, for royal ladies.

TBH the contrast between how Mandelson was dealt with (police and politicians acted swiftly, decisively) and the tiptoeing around Andrew, over very similar allegations, was getting too obvious to ignore

We see this rather differently.

Mandelson was repeatedly brought back into Cabinet positions after being forced to resign because of impropriety (usually financial).

Starmer appointed him ambassador to the US against advice, over the head of a respected career diplomat who worked well with the Trump administration.
This was some time after the closeness of his relationship to Epstein was in the public domain, so would definitely have been known by Cabinet advisors and security people (Financial Times 2023 https://archive.is/19g6R).
I don't know how he got through the advanced vetting process; my understanding of civil service vetting is that someone with two previous episodes of financial impropriety would usually struggle to get through basic vetting.
He was dismissed as ambassador in September 2025, causing a tricky diplomatic situation at the time of the US state visit, and investigated in February when there was significant concern about misconduct in public office and Starmer very nearly lost his own job over the matter.
None of this strikes me as swift and decisive action.

One point that hasn't been mentioned in these threads (possibly because it is the RF board - it may have been discussed elsewhere) is just how much Mandelson may have been masterminding things.

He pushed for AMW to be appointed as trade envoy. During that time (2001-11) Mandelson was Britain's European Commissioner for Trade (2004-8), Business Secretary (2008-9), Secretary of State for Business/Trade/Industry (2009/10).

I assume there will be questioning of the RF and those who work in the palaces. I really really hope there will be a proper investigation into the role of senior politicians over that period as well.

@bluegreygreen - so Mandelson and AMW both were appointed in 2001, and were in role for six years under Tony Blair’s premiership and three years under Brown’s.

Cameron backed AMW right through to July 2011, when it was all getting beyond a joke. (Coalition Business Secretary Vince cable had long since given up on AMW.)

Out of the politicians, Cable and Brown have spoken out wanting an investigation and/or inquiry. Anything yet from Blair and Cameron, does anyone know?

Mandelson was in and out of the cabinet from the general election in 1997.
Minister without Portfolio 1997, then S/S for Trade & Industry in 1998 then out of cabinet Dec 98 - Oct 99 (home loan scandal) then back in. He was then out of cabinet 2001-2004 (accused of using his position to influence a passport application - later exonerated).
From 2004 - trade/business portfolio as above.

I haven't heard anything from Blair or Cameron - or George Osborne, another business/finance person about around that time.

I might be completely out of order here but I’m beginning to feel a teeny tiny bit of sympathy for Ferguson. As DoY she became insufferable; demanding, greedy, rude, spending beyond her means (she had hardly anything).

But the more I read about her, the more I feel she became all of the above because of the RF and what she was lead to believe she was entitled to, on account of her marrying into the RF. She was a very flawed individual before it no doubt, but I think the RF has destroyed her. I’m not saying she had no agency in this and could have chosen a more ‘honour able’ path as DoY. But given how weak she was, the combo of the huge excesses that being a member of the RF gave her access to + bowing & scraping and the inherent deference of the public sector, private sector, police (less relevant), created the pitiful woman she is today.

Maybe this is more relevant on the SF thread but thought to post it here anyway to see what y’all think.

i am also worried about this

More of the same … nothing new but still unreal that the CPS and the Met refused to investigate Andrew not that long ago. I remember being shocked by that response then. Now I understand why they reacted that way.

Giuffre's lawyer says she was 'failed' by the CPS and the Met www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15582445/Virginia-Giuffres-lawyer-says-failed-CPS-Andrew.html?ito=native_share_article-nativemenubutton Virginia Giuffre's lawyer says she was 'failed' by the CPS and the Met

Giuffre's lawyer says she was 'failed' by the CPS and the Met www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15582445/Virginia-Giuffres-lawyer-says-failed-CPS-Andrew.html?ito=native_share_article-nativemenubutton www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15582445/Virginia-Giuffres-lawyer-says-failed-CPS-Andrew.html?ito=native_share_article-nativemenubutton

Instead the Metropolitan Police and the CPS said in 2016 they were not the right authorities as much of the conduct was not in Britain.

The question is why was that response given at the time? Were they told not to investigate? By whom? The palace? Intelligence services? Government? Or they just thought the RF are untouchable and thought we're not going near this with a bargepole? This needs to be looked into. Anyone else not of Royal birth in Britain, such a serious accusation would be investigated at the time. Not over 10 years later. Mind you maybe not, it reminds me of the police receiving complaints about Saville and not doing anything then. It's all extremely dodgy.

Now we hear RPO were on the Island with Andrew, so it all rather stinks and reeks of complicity.

@PumpkinPieAlibi Does the downloaded version contain the new added details Lownie says will be in the the new paperback? I'm debating buying it but have no more space for physical books. I need a spare room to convert to a library but I'm afraid it's never gonna happen😩

AMW closed Pitch at the Palace Global CLC on 5th February this year.