Former prince Andrew’s arrest and the end of the royal myth

“[Our royalty’s] mystery is his life. We must not allow the magic to come to light.”

Walter Bagehot, British Constitution, 1867.

The UK parliament sometimes says “modest address” to celebrate royal birthdays – usually of the monarch, but Negative Always. As far as I can see, former prince Andrew, now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has not received any awards.

But last week there was a much less pleasant official commemoration of his birthday: he was arrested at his Sandringham mansion on suspicion of abuse of public office.