How long do you think it takes to check whether a dog has been injured? Five minutes or so I would have thought. So to check all the dogs, talk to any people present etc would take a couple of hours at most.
The local RSPCA is just across the road from my house and it is where I take my dogs as the vets there are excellent. I asked them this morning about this issue, showed them the photos etc. They said that just based on the photos alone they would have taken about half an hour to check the dogs on the estate and rule 'insufficient evidence' themselves unless a dog clearly has evidence of wounds etc. If any dog was behaving strangely they would then order x-rays, adding maybe an hour or two more. Talking to people is only done after the evidence from the animal itself shows abuse. Most abuse investigations, they undertake, take about five to ten minutes - either the animal has clearly been abused, or their is no obviouss evidence. An investigation takes the form of a look at the animal and includes handling the animal as that reveals a great deal. They said that the investigation into Edward's situation, from the photos they have seen, would have been very short as there is no evidence of abuse to the animal (they did say that if they saw the dogs and saw, or felt, bruising/swelling etc they would then be concerned and then it would take longer as they would take the x-rays).
It seems to me as if some people think that a respected organisation, who main purpose is the protection of animals would somehow not do their job because the person accused is a member of the Royal Family. I have more faith in the integrity of the RSPCA and the work they do. Unfortunately we have some members here who simply wish to believe the worst of the royals at all times and I do feel sorry for people like that. I personally like to give the benefit of the doubt to people.
As for the comment about how many crims are walking around due to insufficient evidence I would like to remind that person that Britian, like Australia, believes in the principle of 'innocent until PROVEN guilty'. I would prefer ten criminals walking free then one innocent person locked up for an offence they didn't commit.