William, Andrew, Mandelson and Bin Salman: four princes, two monarchies and one scoundrel

LondonSomething good can come from something bad, provided there's some luck. That's the small consolation the British government and crown can take for the moment after the various events that have shaken London in the last 72 hours. On the one hand, the crisis that has been taken on by the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmerwhich nearly ended his leadership and has left him in political intensive care. Furthermore, the extraordinary statements that Charles III and Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton have made public regarding with the Epstein affair and the increasingly dirty stain spreading over Andreu Mountbatten-Windsor, brother of the king, uncle of the heir to the throne and, until a few months ago, also a prince (title he was stripped of last year).

If he were to fall in the coming weeks or months –the possibility is very high–, Keir Starmer would be the seventh British prime minister in a decade, quite a record for a country that, rightly or wrongly, before Brexit He was considered stable and serious. Meanwhile, Monday was one of those frenetic days that Westminster has become accustomed to since 2016, when the press smells blood. premier And as he lunges for the throat to continue the spectacle, Prince William boarded a plane to meet, at the behest of the Starmer government, with another prince. In this case, another less-than-honorable one, the mastermind behind the assassination of the journalist from Washington PostJamal KhashoggiThe Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman.

Shortly before William took off for Riyadh, Kensington Palace—the residence of William and Kate Middleton—released a two-line statement through a spokesperson saying: "I can confirm that the Prince and Princess are deeply concerned about the victims." The pedophile was not mentioned, nor was the pedophile's friend, but it wasn't necessary. Nothing was said about the new revelations that Andreu shared confidential information with Epstein while he was the UK's trade envoy in 2010 and 2011, which could constitute a crime. Yet another one.

Hours later, the King intervened, weary of the constant headaches his brother inflicts on the family and the two public booing incidents he received in the last two weeks from a few attendees—few, but quite vocal—at various official events. In light of the new documents that on January 30 According to the US Department of Justice, Charles III said: "As regards the specific claims in question [the alleged corruption as trade envoy], it is for Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor to address them, but if the police contact us, we are prepared to support them, as you would expect."

Has Andrew's last ring of protection fallen? In other words, if there is compelling evidence of systemic corruption affecting the interests of the British state, and the police investigate, Buckingham Palace will cooperate as needed. But will they investigate? Or will they do the same as they did with the rape allegations against the former prince? by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, that have never had any legal repercussions? This, even though one of the encounters with the then-minor Giuffre took place in London.

Is the victim Charles III?

The Crown speaks and spreads an air of respectability. And the media, with the BBC leading the charge, advocates for the monarchy. This Tuesday morning, in an interview with the public broadcaster, Ailsa Anderson, press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II between 2001 and 2013, attempted to portray Charles III as yet another victim of his brother and Epstein. "That the King has been booed twice recently is disconcerting for him, and of course, it distracts from the incredible work he and the Queen do for the good of UK charities and businesses," she said, adding: "This is a man who, as you know, tries to focus on being a monarch. The negativity and sordidness surrounding him will have a major impact on him."

Diplomacy and politics are unfortunately already at odds enough with ethics. Charles and William have tried to make it seem as though the monarchy is not. But what, for example, did the Prince Charles marrying the young DianaThe same old story. The British monarchy plays dirty. Like all monarchies, as always. And if a [something] has to be done... Charles III plays a very gallant role in front of Donald Trump.And if William has to shake hands with an unprincipled prince, he does, and even gives him an England football shirt.

And that's why Andreu has to sink even lower, if Carles and Guillem have to appear very different and far removed from the power structure in which all three were born and raised. And that's why the British media emphasize William's great interest in women's sports during his trip to Saudi Arabia, thus justifying his relationship with a regime that oppresses girls and women.

And that's why the real scoundrel in the Epstein case in the UK will end up being, even more than Andreu, Peter Mandelson, the former British ambassador to the United States appointed by Keir Starmer. Mandelson, who also passed critical government information to Epstein when he was a minister, is known in the islands as the prince of darkness. And from its darkness it can ultimately precipitate the fall of premier, because of his error in judgment in appointing him, which may be the final straw in the many political mistakes he has made in less than two years in power.The Epstein-Mandelson scandal has overshadowed, in this case, the scandal—which is no longer a scandal—of the canonization of an Alawite prince by an English prince. Extraordinary days in London and Riyadh? Not at all. Our daily bread, as it has been for centuries.