Public is tiring of Meghan Markle, Princes Harry, Andrew and William’s whining and hypocrisy

This is shaping up to be a bad year for the royal family, with several PR disasters damaging The Firm’s reputation.

OPINION.

There’s quite a lot for Prince Andrew to think about as he lies, like a very expensive beached whale, by his pool in Spain.

The Duke of York is out in ­Sotogrande with his publicity-crazed ex, Fergie, The Sun reports.

It’s a ­welcome break for Andy from the seemingly ­continual, onerous, royal duties of going on holiday and playing golf.

One day quite soon the Prince may find that he is going to be called to be a material witness in a US court case.

This is a consequence of his close friendship with the late convicted paedophile and financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew remained a friend of Epstein even after he had served 13 months for procuring a 14-year-old girl for prostitution.

There are photographs of Andrew in one of Epstein’s mansions. The two men were seen walking together a year after Epstein had been convicted.

The front of The New York Post in 2011.

SORDID SHENANIGANS

There are allegations — strongly denied by Buckingham Palace — that Andrew was more involved in Epstein’s sordid shenanigans.

What cannot be denied is Andrew’s close friendship with the vile but powerful man.

Remaining Epstein’s bosom buddy after he had been convicted certainly shows bad judgment.

But then parts of Andy’s career as a royal have involved bad judgment.

He apparently enjoys the retinue of rich and famous tossers who gather around him, no doubt anxious to be associated with the British crown.

And he doesn’t seem to care very much how awful some of them are.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew leaving church on August 11, 2019.

BAD YEAR FOR ROYALS

This is shaping up to be a bad year for the royal family.

Prince Andrew, never hugely adored by the public, could be a source of grave embarrassment to them.

The public is also tiring of Harry and Meghan’s relentless political preaching, whining and hypocrisy. The private jets to climate change summits. The gobsmackingly expensive renovations to their house with wallpaper made of organic kale and goji berries, or something.

It was reported this week that the royal family’s bill for travel and security has almost doubled since 2016. Much of that is probably Meghan.

I’ve always been marginally in favour of having a royal family.

But that’s contingent upon who that royal family actually is. And how they behave.

Prince William and Catherine in June.

Prince Harry and Meghan at The Lion King premiere.

DECENCY AND DUTY

The Queen and Prince Phil (when he’s not smashing a car up) have been models of decency and duty. They keep a certain distance from the public and that is perhaps why they are so adored.

To her immense credit, Princess Anne has followed that blueprint. She doesn’t emote for the media and lecture us.

My worry is that the newer generation of royals will turn the British public against the Windsors. In Andrew’s case, befriending a scumbag has brought disgrace upon him and the family firm.

With Harry and Meghan and William, it’s a case of trying to be too modern and thus losing sight of what it means to be a member of the royal family.

Keep on this track and we won’t have a royal family for very much longer.

This official Christening photograph released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Picture: AFP

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission