Aw bless, you have to feel sorry for him; he is afflicted with the 'ginger blight' after all
I'd say the press is largely to blame here, poking their collective nose in where it doesn't belong as usual. Where was all the fuss with prince Andrew flying helicopters in the Falklands business? I know there was some comment, but certainly not on the scale we seems to be seeing here.
Trouble is most 'news' papers would report by the hour on fresh paint drying if they thought it would sell more papers. It's not newsworthy, it's just dross. Unfortunately the great unwashed lap it up, seemingly without satiation.