OPINION - Andrew once was a heartbeat away from the throne. Doesn’t bear thinking about, does it?

You know that things are getting insurrectionary when Norfolk turns against the Royals. One of my friends there sent me shots from Aylesham social media – this being the town where Andrew was questioned yesterday – and the comments were quite something. “Slimy git” was one; “Dirty nonce” was another (Andrew, I hasten to add, has denied all wrongdoing in his dealings with Jeffrey Epstein); and there was rude reference to him dropping into Screwfix, though on the positive side, one contributor did say, “it was nice to be mentioned, tbh” (Aylesham being rarely on the front pages). Norfolk is Monarchism Central; if you’ve lost the locals there, the cause is over. As the nation ponders its relationship with the House of Windsor, we might like to reflect that this is how primogeniture works. It’s a genetic lottery. Before Charles had children, and before the law was changed to allow women equal access to the succession, Andrew was second in line to the throne, a heartbeat away. Doesn’t bear thinking about, does it? Mind you, it is unlikely he would have been allowed anywhere near Jeffrey Epstein if he had been the actual heir. As a younger son, he had greater licence, and look where it got him.