ACCORDING to news reports Prince Andrew recently drove his car into some gates at the edge of Windsor great park, forcing them open and causing tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage. It was, it appears, a deliberate act of vandalism committed out of impatience and petulance.
One of the fundamental principles we claim to live by is the rule of law and the idea that we are all equal in the eyes of the law.
Yet this incident was not reported to the police by the Crown Estate who own the park, and the police have taken no steps to investigate.
Had the driver been an ordinary member of the public – well, you know the answer to that.
Some people maintain it was a trivial incident. Perhaps, but the principle is not trivial.
If there is one rule for us and another for the royals then clearly we are not equal in the eyes of the law.
The Crown Estate is essentially a public authority that raises revenue for the taxpayer.
It is not the property of the royals, yet the Estate has refused to comment on the case and behaves as if they have no accountability to the public.
As well as one arrogant prince, the Crown estate also has questions to answer.
JEFF ADAMS
Bloomsbury, Swindon