Unloved by the population, King Charles's brother arouses no compassion after his arrest.

"He deserves it!": In the streets of London, Britons on Thursday welcomed the arrest of ex-Prince Andrew, "a strong message" showing, according to them, that the brother of King Charles III and the royal family are not above the law.

“I’m delighted,” Emma Carter, a lawyer, told AFP with a smile. “He should have been arrested a long time ago, frankly,” continued the 55-year-old, speaking to AFP in the City of London. His arrest is “a strong message. He deserves it!” she added. In her view, the former prince “hid for years behind his privileges and the popularity of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II,” who died in September 2022.

Maggie Yeo, a 59-year-old retiree, also greeted the news with a broad smile. "I thought they (the royal family) were untouchable," she said. "It's good to know they're not above the law. At least British justice works."

Jennifer Tiso, a 39-year-old data analyst, was pleased that after the arrests of "rock stars and superstars, it is now reaching higher spheres, such as the royal family."

Many Britons seemed to be betting on impunity for the royal family: a Yougov poll published on Monday indicated that nearly two-thirds of Britons (62%) considered it "unlikely" that the ex-prince, who has always denied the accusations against him, could be charged.

“Arrogant and not intelligent”

The satisfaction seen on Thursday in the streets of London at the announcement of Andrew's arrest also illustrates the strong unpopularity surrounding the king's brother, for years since the scandal surrounding his friendship with the American pedophile Jeffrey Epstein has resurfaced.

Kevin, a retiree from Salisbury who also does not hide his joy after the arrest, declares that he "does not like" Andrew at all, whom he considers "arrogant" and "not intelligent".

"I have nothing against the royal family. But he really doesn't set a good example," said the man, who did not want to give his last name.

For him, Andrew, who was the UK's special envoy for international trade from 2001 to 2011, "must be questioned about this, it's important," Kevin believes. "It involves contracts, money, diplomatic relations with other countries," he emphasizes.

The fact remains that Andrew was arrested because of allegations that he passed confidential information to Jeffrey Epstein when he was a trade emissary. This is not due to other suspicions that have surrounded him for years, currently being "assessed" by British police, that he had sexual relations in the UK with young women allegedly sent to him by Jeffrey Epstein.

Sorry for the king

Emma Carter, the lawyer, said on Thursday that she was thinking of "these victims," but nevertheless felt that the arrest was "a good thing for them." The Londoner also said she was "sorry for King Charles III, who is suffering from cancer and was probably not fully aware of his brother's past."