In recent days we have been subjected to a veritable firestorm of press revelations concerning Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. These range from sexual abuse of a minor to paying a chickenfeed rent for a 30-bedroom mansion which he shared with his ex-wife. He has been stripped of military/naval ranks and there was even talk of him having to hand back his Falklands War medal, although this will now be unlikely to happen.
There was only one aircraft carrier down south in 1982 so helicopters were in short supply. This meant that the pilots, of which Sub Lieutenant Windsor was one, had to do the jobs allocated. Recces’, casualty evacuation, anti-submarine work and, it would not surprise me, getting in the way of Exocet missiles, in short being there to be shot at. He served his country and, I would remind people, in the forces you salute the rank not the man.
Setting a good example?
My work in re-hab and probation tells me that most human vices are learned behaviour so who in his current family, and family history, could be his mentors, those who could set the good example? How about Edward Vll, Lily Langtry, Lady Randolph Churchill, Sarah Bernhardt, Alice Keppel? All these women were intimate with Edward during his marriage to Princess Alexandra of Denmark, imagine her humiliation Believe it or not there was a strict Victorian moral code back then, a man like Bertie was still made king though. Edward Vlll was a source of conflict with both the church and the government, insisting on marrying Wallis Simpson a twice divorced American. He met with Hitler in 1937 against government advice, and after the abdication German government papers tell us he was open to returning to the throne as a Nazi puppet.
Currently we have Charles lll, Andrew’s elder brother of course. There have been cash for honours allegations, a Saudi national offered a knighthood for donations. Charles accepted cash from a Qatari business man all this for The Princes Foundation charities. Not a good look. Diana also said that he had said “I refuse to be the only Prince of Wales never to have had a mistress”
Morality
There is nothing unique about Andrew’s behaviour in the Windsor family morality stakes, some think that sex with a 15/16 year old is a lot worse than sex with half a dozen different adult women while married. What is unique though is the way in which he has been keel hauled by some ” righteous” people, press, politicians etc. I would like to examine their back catalogues.
When Diana died deference towards the royal family went out of the window. Whether that is a good or bad thing will remain a matter of personal choice. I am not trying to whitewash Andrew Windsor here but it was not all that long ago when Fleet Street editors would turn a blind eye to Royal chicanery, but not any more!
So let’s go ahead let’s inform the world, rightly and accurately, of Andrew’s debauched behaviour. After all Virginia Giuffre took her own life because she met with this “handsome prince “. Having said this, I retain a shred of sympathy for this shamed naval officer, taking away his Falklands War campaign medal would be a step too far. He gained it working with men who knew him better than his mother and, post war, they had no complaints.
Forgiveness?
Will forgiveness ever enter this horrid tale? In the present climate probably not. Forgiveness is not easy, I know. In this case should a victim find it easy it would be as if Virginia’s suffering didn’t really matter, it cannot be for the remorseful either that would mean forgiveness only for those who are sorry. Just the other night I saw Sky Roberts and Amanda, brother and sister in law to Virginia, on TV who were tearful in speaking of their search for justice, it’s not up to me to forgive the cause of their tears. If they choose, they must do it themselves but, even though it would be a hard choice, it might just allow them to arrive at a degree of at least, well, tolerance.
Should there be evidence of repentance and remorse there will be those who will still believe there is no virtue in him. So should Sky and Amanda find within themselves a need to forgive they need to understand that it is not because Andrew deserves it, it is because they deserve it.
Perhaps, then, there is a lesson to be learned here, if we can believe that the most misguided people among us can learn to respect the worthiness of their fellow human beings there might still be a place for hope, faith and love. But that will be down to all of us.
It's Andrew this and Andrew that
And Andrew how’s your soul
But it's the thin red line of heroes
When the drums begin to roll
