Advertisement
Being born into aristocracy often means life on “Easy Mode,” where even the least capable individuals can coast through existence, cushioned by privilege until they retire early on the family’s wealth. However, even with this advantageous start, one can still manage to botch things up royally.
Enter Rowan Nash Lascelles, a 46-year-old second cousin of King Charles and 68th in line to the British throne. Despite his silver-spoon upbringing, Lascelles has veered off course, becoming a fugitive from the law due to a string of bizarre and disturbing incidents involving violence, racism, and homophobia.
Lascelles’ rap sheet reads like a catalogue of societal misconduct. From harassing a man based on race and religion at a newsagents in Victoria station to physically attacking women at a train station, his behavior has consistently crossed lines of decency and legality. Not content with mere harassment, he escalated to homophobic slurs and racial epithets at a McDonald’s, leading to his arrest and conviction for racially aggravated harassment and threatening behavior.
His downward spiral continued with a violent outburst at a homeless charity’s offices, where he made chilling threats of violence, including telling a worker he would stab her in the face. Despite convictions and court appearances, Lascelles failed to show up for his latest trial, leaving authorities scrambling to locate him.
The roots of Lascelles’ downfall are complex, with reports suggesting a history of drug abuse, particularly synthetic cannabinoids. His upbringing in an off-grid hippie commune, described as “feral” by some, likely contributed to his troubled trajectory. A chaotic trip to Cambodia in the mid-2000s further derailed his life, leading to conflicts with authorities and a period of homelessness in London marked by erratic and aggressive behavior.
Lascelles’ descent into lawlessness raises troubling questions about the viability of hereditary monarchy. While it’s highly improbable that someone like him would ascend to the throne, the mere possibility underscores the inherent risks of such a system. Lascelles serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the potential dangers when privilege and entitlement intersect with personal instability and societal neglect.