Now that the whole world knows what a pathetic, entitled schemer is Prince Andrew, IB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™d like to point out that the Gazette scooped it first.
The precise date evades me, must have been 1976 or B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·˜77, but your archives will have the story we ran when Andrew visited a sawmill in Sooke. I recall the lineups of excited children who, dressed in their Sunday bests B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ because how else would one greet a Prince? B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ were awaiting his arrival. I asked them what they thought heB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™d look like, and they werenB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™t sure, but at least he would be wearing a crown. And what would he do when he arrived? Oh, that was almost beyond their imagination. They hopped from foot to foot, couldnB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™t bear to stand still. And they waited, not complaining that he was late, and, eventually when he strode along, not even complaining that he didnB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™t wear a crown. A pair of jeans, if I recall correctly.
But their gasps of joy fell silent as he strode and strode, not even glancing in their direction. A short tour of the sawmill followed. He nodded occasionally but said little.
We said more in our pages, reflecting on how he didnB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™t seem at all to be engaged with the locals or be aware of noblesse oblige. The photo which ran on the front page caught him in a characteristic frown B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ the very same pose that has covered the worldB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s front pages over the last few days. As I said, we had it first.
I think we even sent her Majesty a copy of the article. She should have taken note then and counselled him about arrogance and entitlement.
Abby Day
Skipton, England