Samara Gill speaks to former head of Royal Protection Dai Davies, who brands the unfolding royal scandal “unprecedented” and constitutionally serious. Davies warns the “tentacles are far reaching”, stretching across government departments, police forces and palace officials, and says there appears to have been a “complete conspiracy of silence” lasting decades. He insists the focus must return to victims, arguing British authorities failed to act earlier despite serious allegations involving UK citizens.

Davies questions why due diligence was not carried out on Andrew’s associates and travel, asking: “Where is the audit trail? Follow the money trail.” He says protection officers, diplomats and senior palace figures should all be examined, adding it “beggars belief” that nothing untoward was reported during overseas visits. He also raises concerns about potential national security implications, suggesting security services and ministers must answer what they knew and when.

Turning to the King, Davies says it is “uncharted waters” and admits he feels sympathy given the monarch’s health, but stresses that neither the palace nor government can “hide from telling the truth.” If wrongdoing or concealment were proven, he says, consequences would have to follow “like everyone else in this sorry saga.” Asked whether Andrew could ever face prison, Davies replies bluntly: “Call me cynical – I doubt it.”

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