In the least-shocking development in ages, Prince Andrew has settled his case in order to avoid court. Which means, legally, he has no stain on his honour, and can just carry on as before.
Yeah, right.
Here's the thing: the Royal Family have very significant wealth and holdings nominally in their own name, and they're also in receipt of very significant sums of money from the public, and have access to many homes and palaces that are nominally owned by the public. The claim is that the settlement, which is significant, is being paid from the former... though whether that money originally came from us via the Civil List is never going to be clear.
Well, fair enough. He's the queen's son, indeed her favourite son, so if she wants to bail him out with 'her' money, that's her prerogative as a mother.
But it's also not enough.
Nor is it enough that Andrew has been stripped of some of his ranks, titles, and honours.
Very simply, the public can no longer be expected to support Andrew in any way, shape, or form. He must now be stripped of all of his remaining ranks, titles, and honours (with the exception of those few minor awards he legitimately earned for his military service in the Falklands War). Additionally, he must lose access to all those properties that the Royal Family are permitted to use but which remain publicly-owned. Let him live the remainder of his life in obscurity, and as a private citizen.
If not, if the Royal Family cannot bear to excise the poison, then the Royal Family itself must also no longer be in receipt of public money, and they themselves must lose access to those public holdings.
If Charles wants to be King, Andrew must cease to be a Prince.
