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

This episode commenced with a isolated photograph, perhaps the most consequential ever snapped of a member of the monarchy.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, standing closely beside a young woman, while another individual smiled conspiratorially in the backdrop.

Lacking that snapshot, shot at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the claims of a young woman who stated she was moved across the sea and compelled to have perfunctory intimate contact with a individual of the royal bloodline?

An odd, telling gesture by someone who had publicly claimed to have not known about her, asserted he could not have had intimate contact with her, and yet provided a large amount of family money to resolve a long-delayed legal case.

A Long Period of Disgrace

Considering this, discussions of the royals acting swiftly to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This controversy has endured for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and another photo of Andrew ambling pleasantly with a disgraced financier emerged.

• Self-importance: To what extent did his family members, perhaps even his mother and father, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his staff and the law enforcement were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he publicly welcomed them to palaces.
• Monetary Excess: If the household did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Journeys were documented in royal annual reports: chopper flights from the palace to a golf course and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "the frequent flyer".

World of Deference

Additionally the arrogance which expected deference when he walked into a space or the supreme consciousness about his honorifics used on his official documents in letters to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who unaccountably indulged him, was still alive. The Queen did at least revoke him of public duties and military positions in the wake of his catastrophic and, as revealed, mendacious media appearance six years ago.

Recent Developments

Merely in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the release of accounts giving more troubling details of his actions and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's belief that he could get away with deceiving about his interaction with a notorious figure.

People (and the press) were far ahead of the monarchy. There was not a single person of any importance to defend him, a outcome of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The more astute family members recognized that. The key objective is to transfer the monarchy, if not as previously at least intact and unstained.

For generations the last 190 years trying to undo the reputation of previous monarchs, demonstrating they are useful, accountable and responsive to their subjects.

His actions endangered all that in danger in an age when respect and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

Aftermath

Ultimately, the well-known indecisive sovereign was pushed additional. There was no other option. The royal household had relinquished authority of the narrative.

Currently the stripping of titles and the persistent and lifetime public humiliation that will afflict Andrew most deeply.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just a private citizen
• Historical Precedent: The first member to forfeit his designations in recent history
• Military Service: Particularly painful given his duty in the conflict

He is still a counsellor of state, on paper able to stand in for the king, and he is still eighth in line to the monarchy, but not any of these will truly occur.

Coming Developments

Will people he meets still acknowledge him? Could they still make mistakes and call him Your Highness? Would they say Mr,

Certainly, he is not withdrawing to a common area, but to the monarchy's vast estate at a royal residence.

There, he will be furnished by the king with one of the estate properties and given some type of financial support.

This is not his former home, where he paid a nominal rent for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit remote, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Unresolved Issues

The situation continues. There are still files in the custody of US Congress to be disclosed.

• Political Pressure: Will parliament demand more
• Financial Investigation: Or examine the waste of public money
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Maybe for the time being the reputational impact to the crown is contained. The statement from the royal household was evidently that the removal of titles was what the sovereign, and notably other senior monarchical figures, wanted.

Altered Approach

The cessation of deception that Andrew was acting willingly. And, notably, the brief announcement showed clearly that the institution were siding with the accuser's version of incidents.

Furthermore, for the premiere occasion they finally showed concern for the victims: "The measures are judged required, notwithstanding the truth that he maintains his innocence of the allegations against him."

In the end it is entitlement, selfishness and laziness that will kill the monarchy. In his stupidity, self-indulgence and venality, Andrew seems never to have understood that lesson.