By Sheila Mckenzie-
The media has a responsibility to protect the mental health of Prince Andrew, some professionals on The Eye Of Media’s thinktank have said.
At hi age, if he is subjected to too much criticism and shame in the new year, it is not inconceivable for him to have a sudden heart attack any time.
Researcher and educator, Joshua Loophood said during a long meeting on Friday with team members discussing important issues in society and the media that ”the media must always be mindful of the mental health of subjects covered in the press to ensure that all coverage is useful and necessary in public interest, not just for the sake of telling a factual story.
Mr Loopwood said it is important the media pays particular attention to how they cover stories about Prince Andrew, who though always a public interest figure, it may not always actually be in the public interest to cover him.
‘The media should consider whether it is in the public interest to publish unnecessary stories that can be damaging to Prince Andrew’s mental health, Mr Loopwood said.
A satirical biopic on Friday about Prince Andrew would have been fair game for the public, but must have seriously added to any pre-existing mental health issues Prince Andrew may have , albeit he brought all this upon himself.
Further, wide surprise that King Charles III was out with Prince Andrew in Sandringham on Christmas Day looked haunted would have undoubtedly heightened the anxiety of the duke.
He told The Eye Of Media.Com: ”Prince Andrew through his own careless past has brought shame on his name, and to some extent the royal family, but it is not healthy to subject him to unnecessary public shame beyond what has already been done. He has been stripped of his honour and position in the royal family, he no longer has any public duties, so subjecting him to further public shame is absolutely unnecessary.
” Everybody in society deserves the right to have their mental health protected, when it is reasonable to do so. His mental health must be protected to some degree and not made unnecessarily worse.
‘Ofcourse the right to freedom of expression means that when a factual story is necessary and justified or interesting, the consideration of mental health cannot outweigh the public interest and free speech, but that balance must always be struck appropriately”.
Claire Coleman, a mentor and teacher from Essex , added to Loopwood’s view: ” it is very dangerous to dehumanise Prince Andrew just because he messed up. We must not forget that he was not found guilty in a court of law and the fact he was found guilty in the court of public opinion does not equate absolute guilt.
”Yes, his conduct was awful and deplorable, and he agreed to the BBC Newsnight interview which was an absolute PR disaster, but he has faced his disgrace. It is not right or fair for the media to subject him to unjustified continues criticism when unwarranted It is very dangerous for his mental health.
Social worker, Hortensia Daniels said: ”it is important for the royal family to remember that he is part of their family , despite his bad conduct which must have been embarrassing to them. But nobody is perfect, King Charles himself can’t claim perfection. Prince Andrew should be subjected to a disciplinary period, and eventually allowed to slowly return to some level of public life.
”The royal family clearly wants to protect their image, and understandably so, but he has to be given something to do. He messed up, but there must be some level of forgiveness and therapy for him. He must not be left to rot”.
The strong views were expressed during a five hour zoom meeting of professionals and some team members of this publication on Friday, as the controversy surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s netflix docuseries was discussed and debated, as well as Jeremy Clarkson’s recent shameful and misogynistic article in The Sun Newspaper last week.
A few academics and other professionals participated in the meeting designed to gain wider perspectives of numerous topics and subjects, both in and out of the mainstream press.
Ever since the Prince’s public disgrace in relation to the Epstein scandal, Prince Andrew has been under fire for his irresponsible and reckless association with the late Jeffrey Epstein.
The concern and warning to the British media follows an article in which a body expert said Prince Andrew looked haunted during his recent visit to Sandringham.
The Duke of York was said to have surprised the waiting crowd with his appearance following months of keeping to himself after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September.
He “walked alone, alongside but outside the royal pack,” according to body language expert Judi James.
Ms James told the Mirror that Prince Andrew “looked very much like the victim of a cull” and that “his wide eyes and his ashen face made him look wary and haunted.” James explained, “His head was held high at times but there appeared to be no one stepping up from the chatty and tactile group of royals to join him or to include him, leaving him walking several paces outside the very upbeat, tactile groups with his hands stuffed into his pockets.”
The last time Prince Andrew stepped out in public was during the funeral events for Queen.
Ms James said the disgraced royal “managed a more inclusive look during the Queen’s funeral when appearances were more formal and military.”
In an informal scenario like the walkabout at Sandringham, Prince Andrew appeared to be “more on the outside of the royal pack than inside.” His rounded eye “suggested some torment” and that he finds it difficult “to see his public appearances as any form of PR event.
He stopped to talk to a woman who admitted that she was freezing. He then gave her “bizarre” advice about standing on a newspaper to warm her feet.
King Charles III offered an olive branch to his younger brother, Prince Andrew, and invited him to spend Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham along with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
Prince Andrew has had a bad year due to his own actions in the past, but the press may need to be a bit more sensitive and protective of his mental health in the new year.
His year will not start on a good note, but it will be a good opportunity for him to reflect on his past, and figure out how to manage his future.
The media and the royal family should help him try and get on with life without any further punishment for his shameful past. He is suffering enough.