""You might think this is about Andrew," a senior Whitehall figure wonders out loud. "But put this in your diary as a pivot point in the relationship between Palace and Parliament." Will this royal mess usher in a new era? And despite their conventional refusal to comment, could politicians become quicker to point out the monarchy's flaws, and more willing to speak out?"
"That just about sums up the response - for years. Ministers would rather do almost anything than speak out on the saga. "It was more than being allergic - you were going into a no-win scenario," a former No 10 official recalls. "You either incur the wrath of the Palace, or you look like you are defending the indefensible.""
Senior ministers have traditionally avoided publicly criticizing the royal family, treating royal controversies as a political no-go area to avoid angering the Palace or appearing to defend misconduct. The Andrew episode exemplified that reluctance, with leaders deflecting questions and advisers warning of a no-win scenario. The convention involved mutual restraint: politicians offering bland praise while royals stayed out of politics. Officials commonly advised non-involvement and were described as "preprogrammed" to caution against engagement. Though exceptions have existed, the episode may signal a shift toward greater political willingness to call out the monarchy's flaws.
Read at www.bbc.com
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