The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor tells me several things, one of which is how much the late Queen really dropped the ball on this one. And that’s putting it politely.

She was the one who protected him when all the stories started to emerge. She was the one who, apparently, helped him out with some of the hush money paid out to one of his accusers.

Which only fueled the impression - rightly or wrongly - that the Royal Family thought it was above everything and everyone else.

Which is why I think this development is a brilliant opportunity for the monarchy.

Because this takes the monarchy down a peg or two, which can only be a good thing in the public’s eyes.

King Charles obviously sees an opportunity. He hasn’t been slow in coming forward, saying “the law must take its course”.

We’ve also got the likes of Major General Alastair Bruce, who is a historian and a royal watcher for Sky News, saying that this is “the most shocking day for the British Crown, to have a former prince of the blood arrested”.

Other commentators are describing the arrest as “extraordinary”, “unprecedented”, “spectacular” and a “body blow”.

Whether it is a body blow remains to be seen. Because these developments overnight show that the monarchy is just as answerable as the rest of us. Which is no bad thing, is it?

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National's Matt Doocey and Labour's Megan Woods joined John MacDonald for Politics Friday this week.

They covered some of the biggest topics from the week from the Infrastructure Commissions report, NZ First pushing for English to become an official language, and they reflect on the February 2011 earthquake sixteen years on.

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How do you feel about being told you need to spend more money?

That’s what the Reserve Bank’s chief economist wants you to do.

As expected, the bank’s governor announced yesterday that there would be no change in the official cash rate because the bank doesn’t want to do anything that could put the brakes on the economic recovery.

Which some people are feeling the benefits of, while others aren’t. Which the Reserve Bank describes as an uneven recovery. Meaning we’re still in for a bit of a haul before we all feel some sort of benefit.

Tell that, though, to the bank’s chief economist Paul Conway who is giving us all a bit of a hurry along, saying people need to stop being so cautious with their money and get out and spend more.

How realistic is that, do you think?

If you’re not having a “tell him he’s dreaming moment”, then you must be one of the people who are already feeling the benefit of an economic recovery.

But, generally, what planet is Paul Conway on, telling us to spend more?

Because we’re doing that already. Not out of choice. Not because we’re feeling particularly flush. But we’re spending more just to get by.

Two days ago, new numbers came out showing that grocery prices are still going up.

White bread prices up 57.9 percent in the past year.

Chocolate up 20 percent.

Not to mention mince. That’s pink gold these days.

Which is why I think this statement by the Reserve Bank’s chief economist that we need to stop being so tight and start spending more is just ridiculous.

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