Foolishness and Regal Arrogance Sunk Andrew, and It Might Persist Yet

It all began with a isolated photograph, perhaps the most impactful ever taken of a individual from the royal household.

In the frame appeared the Baron Killyleagh, arm-in-arm a young woman, while a companion beamed suggestively in the backdrop.

Absent that photograph, captured at a social event in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the claims of a adolescent who stated she was trafficked across the Atlantic and compelled to have perfunctory intimate contact with a prince of the royal bloodline?

A curious, indicative gesture by someone who had overtly asserted to have no heard of her, asserted he could never have had sex with her, and yet provided millions of monarchical money to avert a protracted lawsuit.

Over a Decade of Disgrace

In this context, discussions of the monarchy acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This scandal has persisted for the majority of 15 years since that photograph, and another snapshot of Andrew walking amiably with a convicted sex offender surfaced.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his brothers and sisters, perhaps even his parents, realize that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Questionable Associations: They must have realized, if his employees and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some highly questionable associates given he openly welcomed them to royal residences.
• Monetary Excess: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with state resources.

Trips were printed in public records: private aircraft transfers from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, chartered planes instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "Airmiles Andy".

World of Deference

Additionally the presumption which expected deference when he walked into a space or the supreme awareness about his designations used on his letterheads in communication to his associates.

He could get away with it while his matriarch, who inexplicably spoiled him, was still surviving. The monarch did at least revoke him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the wake of his catastrophic and, it is now clear, untruthful media appearance six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last two weeks that events sped up, following the publication of biographical works giving more disturbing information of his actions and that of his associates.

Further disclosures have again revealed Andrew's thinking that he could escape being untruthful about his contact with a disgraced individual.

Society (and the media) were far more perceptive of the royal family. There was nobody of any significance to support him, a result of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser royals recognized that. The key objective is to transfer the monarchy, if not as before at least complete and unblemished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the image of past sovereigns, proving they are useful, responsible and responsive to their people.

Andrew was putting all that in peril in an era when respect and secrecy is no longer enough.

Aftermath

Ultimately, the well-known hesitant monarch was prodded more. There was little choice. The royal household had relinquished authority of the account.

Now it is the removal of honorifics and the persistent and permanent personal shame that will afflict Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just a private citizen
• Past Example: The primary member to forfeit his titles in modern times
• Military Service: Especially painful given his service in the conflict

He is still a counsellor of state, theoretically able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but neither of these will actually occur.

Coming Developments

Will people he encounters still acknowledge him? Could they still make mistakes and call him Sir? Will they even say Andrew,

Naturally, he is not moving to a common area, but to the monarchy's extensive estate at a royal residence.

In that place, he will be supplied by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of personal stipend.

This is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a nominal payment for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit distant, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still documents in the custody of overseas authorities to be disclosed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Might lawmakers seek further action
• Financial Investigation: Or investigate the misuse of public money
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Possibly for the present the institutional damage to the crown is restricted. The statement from the royal household was evidently that the revocation of honorifics was what the monarch, and particularly other senior royals, desired.

A Shift in Position

An end to pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the concise announcement showed plainly that the monarchy were siding with the victim's narrative of incidents.

Additionally, for the initial instance they eventually showed consideration for the survivors: "These actions are judged required, notwithstanding the fact that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."

Finally it is entitlement, self-seeking and indolence that will undermine the monarchy. In his foolishness, personal excess and greed, Andrew gives the impression never to have grasped that truth.