Irish Examiner view: Complicity by King Charles would end centuries of deference

Basic questions of criminal complicity will take precedence over whatever technical constitutional issues may be looming

Sat, 21 Feb, 2026 - 01:00

The arrest this week of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew, is the latest instalment in a story with all the elements of farce: A pompous protagonist, towering self-importance, unbelievable excuses, and — it now appears — looming retribution.

However, any perception of a comic opera being played out in real time is overshadowed by the human cost of this scandal.

That cost was borne by the women and girls who were trafficked, exploited, and abused by Andrew’s great friend Jeffrey Epstein and the other members of their noisome inner circle.

The gravity of that abuse can be glimpsed in one obvious contrast: The vast difference between the grotesque jollity in the private communications between those people and the po-faced public statements issued subsequently as they try to distance themselves from Epstein.

For Andrew, the arrival of police officers at his home this week heralded a different situation.

Since the news broke, there has been a flurry of activity among historians and constitutional lawyers in Britain — all of them trying to find the exact precedent for such an event.

Many settled on the arrest of Charles I in 1646, which conveys a sense of how unprecedented this week’s events are.

King Charles III pays for his brother Andrew’s accommodation. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA

However, Andrew was arrested for questioning about something far more mundane than a civil war: Whether or not he passed sensitive information to Epstein while he was a British trade envoy.

Similar accusations have been made against long-serving British politician Peter Mandelson, but his plight does not have significant implications for the British royal family.

As pointed out here elsewhere by author Andrew Lownie, King Charles III pays for his brother Andrew’s accommodation.

It means he is intimately involved in Andrew’s personal business.

“If Charles is seen to have been complicit about covering up for Andrew,” said Lownie, “then that is going to be very, very difficult indeed.”

Basic questions of criminal complicity will take precedence over whatever technical constitutional issues may be looming.

If the king is eventually questioned by police about his brother, will centuries of British deference be over?

Apple in Cork

It is hard to believe that Apple has now been based in Cork for almost half a century.

When the California-based computer company first opened a facility on Leeside 46 years ago, few could have imagined how successful it would become globally — or how significant it would become in Ireland.

This week, Apple officially opened a new facility in Hollyhill that will accommodate up to 1,300 workers.

The company also intends to take up a permanent office space in Dublin, with capacity for 300 staff.

Apple now employs over 6,000 people in Ireland, primarily in Cork, with over 90 nationalities represented in its workforce.

There is a broader context to that success.

Apple's European headquarters at Hollyhill in Cork.

As Taoiseach Micheál Martin pointed out when opening the new facility, when Apple arrived in Cork back in 1980, the situation was “grim” — in that decade unemployment would reach heights of 17%.

“Apple has been part of the story of the rejuvenation of Cork, as a city to live in and as a country,” said the Taoiseach.

“It didn’t happen by accident. A large part of it was done with a focus on human capital.”

This is worth reiterating: The story of how Apple came to settle on Cork as a base is one which underlines the proactive work of organisations like the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) and individuals like Dan Byrne.

Their work in bringing Apple to Cork showcased the kind of drive and energy which made the city so attractive as a location in the first place.

This latest expansion is a significant vote of confidence in Cork and Ireland. It bolsters our international reputation for innovative work and valuable research as well as reinforcing our position as a place where American companies can operate successfully — a particularly valuable message in these challenging times.

Eric Dane

On Friday, we learned of the passing of actor Eric Dane less than a year after he publicly revealed that he had been diagnosed with myotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — a type of motor neurone disease. He was 53.

Dane had a long career on television and in films, but readers will be most familiar with his work in the TV medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, where he played Dr Mark Sloan.

Dane was originally meant to star in one episode, but he became a series regular for six seasons. He appeared in 145 episodes between 2006 and 2021.

More recently, he appeared in the controversial HBO drama Euphoria as Cal Jacobs, the father of Wuthering Heights star Jacob Elordi’s character.

He is expected to feature in the upcoming third season of Euphoria, having filmed his scenes in a wheelchair due to his health.

In a statement issued on his passing, Dane’s family stated that: “Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight.”