this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2026
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Summary
Police say King Charles's brother is in custody and officers are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk - read the police statement in full

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[–] arrow74@lemmy.zip 4 points 16 hours ago (5 children)

That's an interesting development then. Nothing stopping the king from issuing a pardon

[–] Depress_Mode@lemmy.world 6 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Charles also said something like "the law must take its course" in reaction to the news, so I think he might just let it play out

[–] greygore@lemmy.world 3 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (1 children)

On June 6, ABC News’ David Muir asked Joe Biden, "Have you ruled out a pardon for your son?" Biden responded, "Yes."

A week later, Biden reiterated to reporters during an international summit that "I will not pardon him," nor commute his sentence, a lesser action that would have reduced Hunter Biden’s sentence but not lifted his conviction.

(source)

Not saying Charles will do an about face like Biden, nor will I say that he’s not just throwing Andrew under the bus to avoid additional fallout, but let’s see what he does if/when Andrew faces real consequences.

[–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world 4 points 9 hours ago

Yeah, sucks that Biden had to do that. But he clearly saw how trump was going to weaponise the doj. They were already reneging on the plea deal that Biden jr had made.

[–] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 20 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

I mean…

I have to assume thr relatively precarious position the royals have is stopping him

[–] arrow74@lemmy.zip 9 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (1 children)

It's the continual back and forth they've had for the last several centuries.

They don't want to lose more power or come off as weak, but they also don't want to wield too much power and be removed.

[–] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 6 points 13 hours ago

Yeah. I think throwing his brother under the bus would probably earn the king a whole lot of goodwill with the public, whereas pardoning him would outrage people.

Though not much came of Jimmy Saville, but Andrew’s not dead

[–] ohulancutash@feddit.uk 7 points 14 hours ago

Uh, yeah there is. It needs to be recommended by ministers.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 2 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

The charge is sharing goverment documents. The penalty is a fine.

[–] fiat_lux@lemmy.world 3 points 9 hours ago

Where are you hearing that? The charge is misconduct in public office, and while the initial arrest for it has been made based on sharing documents, the penalty itself can have a maximum of life in prison. Life in prison won't happen, but given they've now searched 4 properties, I don't think he's getting away with just a fine either.

[–] IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.wtf 1 points 14 hours ago (1 children)
[–] arrow74@lemmy.zip 7 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (1 children)

No the King has that power. It is exercised today under the guidance of other officials, but the King can still use the power without reccomendation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_prerogative_of_mercy

It is crazy how much power the UK monarchs still have. They choose not to exercise it often, but the option remains.

So I dove into the law a bit more and the King must follow the ministers reccomendation when asked to pardon, but there is no indication that the King is limited on his ability to use this mechanism.

However parliment can then check it if they so choose.

Feel free to correct me though, it's complicated text and I may be mistaken

[–] IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.wtf 3 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

The convention is that the royal family don't use these powers unilaterally. There's an unspoken agreement here that they get to keep their palaces and fancy lifestyle on the understanding that they keep out of politics and legal issues so while Charlie could in theory do something like this, he also knows that if he did, it would pretty much signal the end of the monarchy in the UK.

[–] WildPalmTree@lemmy.world 6 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Conventions. That's what kept the US somewhat sane, until it didn't. How is that going again?

[–] IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.wtf 0 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Yes, looking at the reaction to the Epstein fallout around the world, the US is an outlier.

[–] arrow74@lemmy.zip 1 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

We remember the whole Brexit fiasco and well Boris Johnson in general.

No democracy should rely on good faith in its legal code

[–] IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.wtf 0 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Yet to varying extents, they all do.

[–] arrow74@lemmy.zip 0 points 13 hours ago

I don't know how that negates the issue. It's still an issue even if everyone else does it.