Prince Edward lavishes affection on dogs he's accused of beating

 

Prince Edward displayed a kindler, gentler side when he went hunting for pheasant on New Year's Day. A week ago, a set of graphic photographs caused international outrage and accusations that he was a dog beater. 

Accompanied by his father--Prince Philip, 87--as well as his infamous walking stick and the same pair of black Labradors he was accused of beating, Prince Edward placidly strolled the expansive fields of the Queen's 20,000 acre Norfolk estate, displaying none of the anger he had exhibited previously. 

Prince Edward was observed patting and cuddling the dogs, allowing them to jump and lick him.

 

Perhaps the Prince was trying to do some damage control. After all, he is being investigated by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) over last week's incident. It is still not clear whether he actually struck the dogs with his stick, though Buckingham Palace says he didn't.

Or perhaps Prince Edward was just genuinely being himself, rather than engaging in some calculated PR move. It's obvious his dogs have forgiven him for any transgression--as our dogs are wont to do. (That's one reason why dogs are so wonderful; they don't hold grudges.)

It was as if he wanted to show that he was a proper animal lover because the photographs of him with his stick created such a bad impression. --an onlooker's speculation

Maybe the Prince deserves a break; we all make mistakes. Unfortunately, those previous images are not so easily erased. Especially when the internet keeps regurgitating them. (Ahem.)

The prior incident leading to claims of animal cruelty, an RSPCA investigation, and accusations that Prince Edward beat his dogs with a stick.