This thread - in common, it seems, with any other that mentions the Windsors - instantly divides otherwise fairly rational Ppruners into two groups of bickering children. On one side are the traitorous carpers and on the other the loyal cringers.
Carper or cringer, nobody has yet tried to excuse HRH's failure to speak up on behalf of the real officer he literally landed in the poo. Because there is no excuse and everyone knows it? Just a guess.
As I recall, the incident occurred on the day the PoW went on worldwide TV to admit adultery with the wife of a brother officer. Adds a whole new level of meaning to the concept of "self-authorising..."