Royal Arrest

The newspapers are all abuzz. “This has been an unprecedented day for the monarchy”, writes one. “Now the Royal family faces the darkest moment in its modern history.”

Yesterday’s news that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office is unprecedented, and republican campaigners will certainly regard it as wonderful boost and vindication of their frequent complaining. Mountbatten-Windsor certainly appears to embody the disadvantages of monarchy: privileged, spoilt, wealthy and, until yesterday, seemingly above the law. And yet, his arrest and the potential laying of charges surely demonstrates that royalty is not above the law, that our constitutional monarchy does not hide criminals under its skirts, instinctively protecting its own. And for any who use the case of Mountbatten-Windsor to discredit the entire institution and seek to usher in a presidency, take heed: does every occasion an elected politician who breaks the law or takes a bribe persuade you to abolish democracy?  

If Mountbatten-Windsor is as bad as people are saying, he deserves everything he is going to get. Yet those who clamour for his humiliation and punishment take heed again:

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:2

There is a more terrifying, comprehensive and damning record of our behaviour being kept than the Epstein files:

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Revelation 20:12

Thank God, there is also another Prince, a better Prince, who was also condemned for crimes, but ones He did not do, that all who trust in Him should not be put to shame.

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. Col 1:18-20

A. D