Britain likes to consider itself the cradle of free speech – until someone heckles Prince Andrew | Marina Hyde

Vocal antipathy towards any number of things is a cornerstone of The Great British Way. Shame the authorities don't agree

Yesterday, police arrested a 22-year-old man in Edinburgh after Prince Andrew was heckled as he walked behind the Queen's coffin. Andrew," the shout was heard, you're a sick old man." Hand on heart, I've heard worse. And if Prince Andrew hasn't, he certainly will. Money and position and expensive lawyers can insulate you from a huge number of consequences in our imperfect world, but if some boy in the streets wants to go full Emperor's New Clothes on you, you might just have to suck it up, even if it is bad manners in the circs.

Oh, hang on. You don't actually have to. The man - he looks like a boy - was cuffed and later charged. There could be more to it than currently meets the eye, but it is arguably not hugely encouraging that a heckle may be deemed illegal when burglary effectively isn't any more. Then again, do remember that this year's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act increased the minimum term for various serious sexual assaults to four years, and the maximum term for assaulting a statue to 10 years. If women are going to get sexually assaulted, we should strongly consider doing so while dressed as a living statue of Winston Churchill. That way we can seek the full force of the law as applied to inanimate materials, as opposed to the lesser versions typically offered to female flesh and blood.

Marina Hyde is a Guardian columnist

Marina Hyde will join Guardian Live for events in Manchester (4 October) and London (10 October) to discuss her new book, What Just Happened?! For details visit theguardian.com/guardianlive

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a letter of up to 300 words to be considered for publication, email it to us at guardian.letters@theguardian.com