What is it with these people? Do they not think the laws that apply to us lesser mortals also apply to them?
Do they not believe that women are people, too, not blow-up dolls to be played with and discarded? Or were Andrew and Høiby so indulged and cossetted by society, and their royal mothers, that they thought they could get away with anything?
Why did their terrible behaviour seemingly remain so unchecked for so long – and why did no one in their lives have the guts (or love) to read them the riot act and tell them their antics were downright immoral?
It is shocking now to think that Andrew, who has never been charged with any criminal offences and has always denied any wrongdoing, was said to be the late Queen’s favourite son.
These are men whose behaviour has brought their families into disrepute – but maybe for Andrew and Høiby that was unconsciously the point. Revenge on the institution which made them feel privileged but also purposeless and pointless.
What the actions of both Andrew and Høiby show us is how privilege and entitlement, unchecked by duty or moral principle, leads to disaster. Too many sycophants and too much money leads to a massive ego. And that, combined with not enough to do and living in a bubble, leads to a sense that anything goes, that normal rules don’t apply, and unsurprisingly terrible outcomes.
Frankly, it all makes me admire Prince Harry. At least he is uxorious, an involved dad, living his own life, making his own money and working hard to help injured servicemen. No wonder he wanted to escape the bubble of being a spare.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.telegraph.co.uk ’
