Is Prince Andrew going to be the first man to be held accountable?

Prince Andrew is the latest in a string of men using other people’s money to escape crimes who might actually face consequences for his actions.

Queen Elizabeth has doled out the worst punishment she can give to her favourite son – taking away his imaginary titles.

This is not the first of the grave consequences Prince Andrew has had to face as a result of allegedly raping a seventeen-year-old. He also had to step down from public duties, didn’t get a military promotion on his 60th birthday, wasn’t in any of the publicly released photographs at his daughter’s wedding and might even have to sell his Swiss ski lodge.

Andrew denies the allegations but did however use the defence that the civil case should be thrown out, arguing that Virginia Giuffre waived her right to pursue Prince Andrew when she signed a $500,000 settlement with Jeffrey Epstein. So even with a half a million dollar loophole provided by his pal, and the legal fees widely reported to have been paid by his mother, he couldn’t be fully insulated from the possible consequences of his actions – the judge dismissed the argument and the civil sexual assault court case will go ahead.

Leading of course to Queen Elizabeth taking away his honorary military roles and royal patronages. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “With the Queen’s approval and agreement, Prince Andrew’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to the Queen. The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.” How do you reckon the British public will feel if the Queen coughs up for the damages in the event Andrew loses?

Prince Andrew joins hordes of men who used his family’s money to dodge alleged criminal behaviour for most of their lives. Most recently, real estate mogul descendant and convicted murderer Robert Durst, who was convicted this November for the murder of Susan Berman, was indicted for the disappearance of his wife Kathleen McCormack and was acquitted of murdering his neighbour, although he admitted to chopping him up, and who died just this week.

So if you were worried that men might never face consequences for their actions, let there be hope. They might die, just as they’re indicted for a murder they committed 39 years ago, even though they admitted it on tv show seven years ago. Or if they’re a famous man accused of sexual misconduct like Louis CK and Marilyn Manson, cancel culture might destroy their lives as they’re *checks notes* nominated for Grammys. Or if they’re a movie mogul accused of sexual assault allegations by over 80 women, despite serving a 23-year sentence on rape and sexual assault charges, they might go free in a few months after nearly a whole two years in prison if a New York appeals court overturns his conviction because of “incredibly prejudicial testimony.”

Remain hopeful that for up to a period of about 18 months, they might not get a new military title or Netflix special, or like Kevin Spacey, get to star in a new movie just five years after more than 20 men have accused him of sexually inappropriate behavior, or like Mel Gibson, they might be accused of anti-Semitism, homophobia, racism and domestic violence but still get to make movies. Stay hopeful!