During World War II, a British court ordered the relocation of a military airfield situated near a children's school. Winston Churchill, then Prime Minister, insisted that the ruling be implemented without delay, and the airfield was duly moved. His words on that occasion have endured: “Better that Britain should lose the war than that it be said she failed to enforce the judgments of her courts.”
Only days ago, Prince Andrew, brother of the British monarch, was detained on his 66th birthday and later released pending an investigation into his alleged abuse of office, linked to the case of the late American financier and infamous paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who had been convicted of sexual offences. King Charles issued a statement affirming, “My family and I will continue to fulfil our duty and serve you all," with the heir to the throne, Prince William, publicly endorsing his position. In that moment, the interests of the nation and the state were placed above familial considerations.
It is one of the gravest crises the British monarchy has ever faced. Yet the king did not waver: the law must be allowed to take its course.
On 21 October last year, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy entered prison in Paris to begin serving a five-year sentence following his conviction on charges relating to illicit Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential campaign. He spent 20 days in custody before being released under a Court of Appeal ruling.
Leaders and heads of government have faced imprisonment: Silvio Berlusconi in Italy, Yulia Tymoshenko in Ukraine, and, only days ago, South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol, who received a life sentence after being convicted of leading a rebellion through his declaration of martial law in 2024. In Israel, former prime minister Ehud Olmert served 19 months in prison for corruption.
