Michael McGuire: Andy is firmly enmeshed in the royal bosom, despite that interview in 2019

Royal racism or Harry and Meghan’s decision to bugger off to the US should pale into insignificance, writes Michael McGuire.

You have to laugh. Apparently members of the British royal family are racist.

As revelations go, that’s right up there with the Earth being round and the sky being blue.

What’s next? Will word come through that smoking is bad for your health?

I mean, the British royal family, and that would be Australia’s ruling family, have hardly hidden that light under a bushel.

The British Empire can be exhibit one in that argument. The life and times of Prince Philip can be exhibit No 2.

To some extent, I feel sorry for Philip. He’s lived the vast majority of his life as an extra in someone else’s movie.

It’s been a largely pointless existence.

Though, he’s not alone there. The list of the pointless royals is as long as the list of royals.

Still, he’s managed a couple of magical moments.

There was 1986’s “if you stay here much longer, you’ll all be slitty-eyed” to a group of British students in China.

There was 1999’s: “It looks as if it was put in by an Indian.”

He was talking about a fuse box in a factory near Edinburgh.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s interview with Oprah Winfrey ignited a storm.

There are many, many more, but I’ve only got 670 words to play with here.

The latest furore has been sparked by Meghan Markle’s revelation that an unnamed member of her new family inquired what skin tone her upcoming baby would be.

Perhaps the person brought along a laser pointer and a Dulux paint chart.

“Do you think the child will be closer to self-destruct (an actual colour a person can buy apparently) or toffee fingers?’’ This all came out in an interview Meghan and Harry gave to Oprah Winfrey that was screened on Monday. It caused quite the ruckus.

The ever-reliable Daily Mail front page screamed “Duty means everything” and contrasted the Queen’s “dedication” most unpleasantly with whatever Harry and Meghan are up to.

The Daily Express followed a similar line, headlining “That’s public service for you, Harry and Meghan, not a self-serving TV chat with Oprah’’.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex sits with Prince Harry and Prince Andrew the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in March , 2019. Picture: AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

All of which seems to ignore the vicious backgrounding that has come out in recent weeks about what a nasty bully Meghan is and how Harry has betrayed his family.

Another paper, the Daily Mirror, called this latest contretemps, the biggest scandal in 85 years, back when nazi fan boy King Edward VIII ran away with another American woman in Wallis Simpson. There is no doubt it’s enormous fun to watch the royal system fall apart.

But you have to wonder if all those screaming the loudest don’t have their priorities in slightly the wrong order.

Harry and Meghan’s decision to bugger off to the US should surely pale into insignificance compared to the fact that the royals are harbouring and protecting a bloke who has been alleged to have had sex with an underage girl.

Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II Prince Andrew and Prince Harry during the Queen's annual birthday parade in 2019. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

At the very least, Prince Andrew has been good friends with one of the world’s most notorious paedophiles.

And he remained friends with Jeffrey Epstein even after the American was sent to jail. Andy even stayed at Jeff’s house in New York after his prison sentence.

Yet, Andy is firmly enmeshed in the royal bosom, despite that interview in 2019 in which he claimed his only sin was that he was “too honourable’’. Earlier this year, it was announced the friend of a paedophile would have his birthday marked in February by ringing of the bells in Westminster Abbey. It didn’t go ahead because of COVID-19 restrictions in the UK, not because of a sudden attack of conscience by the Queen.

There has been some talk that all this infighting will help the republican cause in Australia. Maybe, maybe not.

When Meghan and Harry were here a couple of years back, that was apparently the end of republicanism because they were so popular.

Australia becoming a republic should not rest on the popularity of that sideshow in any case. It shouldn’t matter whether the Queen is alive or dead. It shouldn’t matter if Meghan is popular or not.

Australia should become a republic because Australians should run Australia.