Foolishness and Regal Arrogance Sunk Andrew, and It Could Continue Yet

This episode commenced with a solitary photograph, perhaps the most significant ever taken of a member of the monarchy.

Present was the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a young woman, while a companion smiled knowingly in the backdrop.

Lacking that photograph, taken at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the allegations of a teenager who declared she was transported across the Atlantic and forced to have cursory intimate contact with a prince of the monarchy?

A curious, telling action by someone who had overtly stated to have not known about her, said he could no have had relations with her, and yet paid a substantial sum of his mother's money to settle a protracted lawsuit.

A Long Period of Scandal

In this context, discussions of the royals acting swiftly to distance themselves from Andrew are misguided. This scandal has persisted for the better part of 15 years since that picture, and an additional snapshot of Andrew ambling amiably with a convicted sex offender emerged.

• Arrogance: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his relatives, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Questionable Associations: They must have understood, if his staff and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some highly questionable friends given he publicly welcomed them to estates.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Trips were printed in royal annual reports: private aircraft flights from the royal residence to a golf course and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

A Life of Privilege

Then there was the presumption which demanded respect when he entered a area or the extreme awareness about his designations used on his letterheads in letters to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who unaccountably pampered him, was still surviving. The sovereign did at least strip him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the aftermath of his disastrous and, it is now clear, mendacious media appearance six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the release of books giving more grim information of his conduct and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's belief that he could avoid being untruthful about his interaction with a disgraced individual.

The public (and the journalists) were far in advance of the royals. There was not a single person of any importance to speak up for him, a outcome of all those years of hubris.

Royal Worries

The more intelligent royals understood that. The primary concern is to hand down the monarchy, if not as before at least intact and untarnished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the image of previous monarchs, demonstrating they are useful, accountable and attentive to their citizens.

His actions endangered all that in danger in an era when deference and secrecy is no longer enough.

Consequences

Eventually, the famously uncertain sovereign was prodded further. There was no alternative. The royal household had relinquished authority of the account.

Now it is the loss of honorifics and the persistent and lifetime social disgrace that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Reduction: Reduced to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The primary royal to lose his titles in modern times
• Armed Forces: Particularly hurtful given his role in the conflict

He is still a constitutional officer, theoretically able to act for the sovereign, and he is still in the succession to the monarchy, but not any of these will ever happen.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he comes across still acknowledge him? Could they still forget themselves and call him Prince? Will they even say Sir,

Naturally, he is not retiring to suburbia, but to the sovereign's large property at Sandringham.

In that place, he will be provided by the king with one of the royal residences and given some sort of personal stipend.

This differs from his previous residence, where he paid a token payment for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit distant, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Unresolved Issues

This is not over. There are still records in the custody of US Congress to be disclosed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Will parliament demand more
• Fiscal Review: Or investigate the waste of taxpayer funds
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a criminal probe into his actions

Maybe for the time being the reputational impact to the institution is restricted. The narrative from the palace was evidently that the revocation of designations was what the monarch, and notably other senior family members, desired.

A Shift in Position

An end to pretence that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, remarkably, the short announcement showed clearly that the monarchy were aligning with the complainant's version of occurrences.

Additionally, for the initial instance they ultimately showed consideration for the victims: "These actions are judged required, despite the reality that he maintains his innocence of the allegations against him."

In the end it is arrogance, selfishness and laziness that will destroy the institution. In his foolishness, self-indulgence and corruption, Andrew appears never to have learned that truth.