Prince Andrew had better steel himself – his shaming has only just begun

His lowness

NO other modern Royal has basked quite as smugly or arrogantly as Prince Andrew in the trappings and entitlements of the family he was born into.

So the Queen’s unsentimental decision to strip him of his military titles and Royal roles will be acutely painful. As will the culling of his “Royal Highness” status. We applaud her for it.

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It is vital not to taint our proud Armed Forces by association with her son. And to put distance between him and our monarchy by making him defend his sex case as a ­citizen, not a Royal.

But Andy had better steel himself. His shaming has only just begun.

We understand the argument that he should pay off Virginia Giuffre to spare the feelings of the Queen and his family.

But the public rage if taxpayers’ money is spent buying the silence of a sex abuse victim will be overwhelming.

Besides which, his denials have been so obdurate that he cannot surely now give up on his own defence.

The trial will be hugely damaging. The Queen has at least done what she can to shield the family and the institution.

Cutting him adrift is the right call.

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China spook

THE Chinese spy at Westminster is just the tip of an iceberg.

Only now is the insane folly of successive Governments cosying up to this vicious regime and its riches truly dawning. It is no friend to Britain.

Yet for years naive politicians believed it would open up its economy, transition from totalitarian Communism to a more ­liberal order and unleash investment here, turbo-charging our growth.

Greedily we embraced its billions in our universities, tech firms, manufacturers and even our mobile network. Sworn Chinese Communist Party members were blithely employed in our banks, drug firms, defence giants and money-hungry academic institutions.

Now it has even infiltrated our Parliament, pumping in donations — mostly to Labour — hoping that a host of useful-idiot MPs will spew out its propaganda.
China’s fans say it is merely a benign economic partner. That is sickening spin on behalf of a regime which systematically hacks and steals, is brutally destroying freedoms in Hong Kong and has enslaved a million Uighur Muslims.

A regime which is by far the world’s biggest polluter and the source of Covid.

It is a repugnant, remorseless tyranny. MI5’s fears are not overblown.

Five-star Saj

WELL done, Sajid Javid, for cutting Covid isolation to five days from seven.

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The increased risk is minimal . . . the boost for the economy and schools huge.

Now, with Omicron cases falling like a stone and massive immunity levels nationwide, let’s clear the final hurdle.

Set us free, Boris, the sooner the better.