Today, photographer Michael Forsmark allegedly videotaped one of the Danish princes (the younger one) driving recklessly (and way too fast) with his two sons in the car. Forsmark reported this incident to the police who have been quick to comment that even if the accusations are true the prince may rest assured that he cannot be prosecuted since the constitution exempts him.
Let’s look closer… the Danish constitution of 1953 says
Par. 3:
Legislative authority shall be vested in the King and the Folketing conjointly. Executive authority shall be vested in the King. Judicial authority shall be vested in the courts of justice.
Par. 13:
The King shall not be answerable for his actions; his person shall be sacrosanct…
I suppose it is this latter clause which, by the semi-magic of Danish constitutional law is supposed to exempt the prince in question from legal responsibility.
Considering the relationship between royalty and ordinary citizens in a game perspective we can probably agree that game balance is skewed which basically translates into a lack of equity. Citizens are equal in the eyes of the law, err… except for a special group of citizens. Wonderful. In a medieval sort of way.
(Story in Politiken)
Update: The photographer is now being accused of actually provoking the prince (if indeed it was the prince) into speeding. Historian Steffen Heiberg is quoted as warning that a public trial would be nothing less than a scandal. Oh, a scandal! Well, in that case all charges should be dropped immediately.
Update: The photographer, it seems, was once accused of sawing off the head of The Little Mermaid. Baroque.