🔗 Share this article Folly and Royal Self-Entitlement Damaged Andrew, and It Might Persist Yet This episode commenced with a single photograph, possibly the most consequential ever taken of a member of the monarchy. Present was the Duke of York, arm-in-arm a female youth, while a companion grinned suggestively in the backdrop. Absent that image, shot at a party in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the assertions of a adolescent who said she was trafficked across the ocean and obliged to have brief sexual encounters with a member of the monarchy? A curious, revealing move by someone who had publicly asserted to have no known about her, said he could no have had relations with her, and yet provided millions of his mother's money to settle a drawn-out lawsuit. A Long Period of Scandal In this context, talk of the royals acting swiftly to sever ties with Andrew are inaccurate. This affair has endured for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and another photo of Andrew walking pleasantly with a convicted sex offender emerged. Arrogance: How long did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his mother and father, understand that Andrew was so self-entitled? Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his employees and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some highly questionable friends given he openly hosted them to royal residences. Financial Extravagance: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with public money. Trips were printed in royal annual reports: private aircraft transfers from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for dining, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the comfort of "the frequent flyer". A Life of Privilege Furthermore the presumption which expected respect when he walked into a space or the profound awareness about his designations used on his official documents in messages to his friends. He avoided accountability while his matriarch, who inexplicably indulged him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the consequence of his catastrophic and, it is now clear, mendacious television interview six years ago. Recent Developments It was only in the last fortnight that events progressed rapidly, following the release of accounts giving more grim information of his conduct and that of his associates. Additional revelations have again revealed Andrew's belief that he could escape lying about his relationship with a convicted criminal. People (and the press) were far ahead of the royals. There was nobody of any consequence to defend him, a result of all those years of presumption. Monarchical Concerns The more astute family members realized that. The key objective is to hand down the institution, if not as previously at least complete and unblemished. For generations the last 190 years trying to undo the image of previous monarchs, proving they are beneficial, accountable and responsive to their people. Andrew was putting all that in peril in an time when deference and privacy is no longer enough. Consequences Eventually, the well-known indecisive king was pushed more. There was no other option. The institution had surrendered command of the narrative. Currently the stripping of designations and the continued and permanent social disgrace that will pain Andrew most severely. Reduction: Demoted to just a commoner Prior Instance: The initial member to surrender his honorifics in modern times Naval Career: Especially stinging given his role in the engagement He continues to be a counsellor of state, theoretically able to act for the monarch, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but not any of these will truly happen. Coming Developments Can persons he meets still defer to him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Prince? Would they say Sir, Of course, he is not withdrawing to suburbia, but to the sovereign's vast estate at a monarchical property. At that location, he will be provided by the monarch with one of the estate properties and given some sort of personal stipend. It is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a minimal lease for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit far, but even so it may not be adequate distance. Outstanding Concerns This is not over. There are still documents in the custody of American legislators to be disclosed. Political Pressure: Could legislators request additional information Financial Investigation: Or examine the waste of taxpayer funds Judicial Potential: There may even be a criminal probe into his actions Maybe for the present the reputational impact to the institution is limited. The statement from the palace was plainly that the removal of designations was what the king, and particularly other senior royals, wanted. Altered Approach The cessation of illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, remarkably, the short statement showed clearly that the royals were aligning with the accuser's account of incidents. Furthermore, for the initial instance they eventually showed consideration for the affected individuals: "The censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the reality that he continues to deny the accusations against him." Finally it is arrogance, selfishness and inactivity that will kill the monarchy. In his folly, self-gratification and venality, Andrew seems never to have learned that reality.