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

This episode commenced with a isolated photograph, possibly the most impactful ever snapped of a royal family member.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, with his arm around a female youth, while a companion smiled conspiratorially in the background.

Without that photograph, captured at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the allegations of a adolescent who stated she was transported across the ocean and obliged to have cursory sexual encounters with a prince of the royal bloodline?

A curious, telling gesture by someone who had overtly stated to have no been aware of her, asserted he could not have had sex with her, and yet handed over a large amount of monarchical funds to avert a long-delayed lawsuit.

A Long Period of Disgrace

Against this backdrop, discussions of the royal family acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are misguided. This controversy has continued for the better part of 15 years since that photograph, and another snapshot of Andrew strolling pleasantly with a convicted sex offender surfaced.

• Self-importance: How long did his siblings, possibly even his relatives, know that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Questionable Associations: They must have known, if his staff and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he unabashedly welcomed them to estates.
• Financial Extravagance: If the family did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Travel were documented in public records: chopper flights from the palace to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of regular transport, all for the benefit of "the travel enthusiast".

World of Deference

Furthermore the entitlement which required subservience when he appeared in a space or the extreme obsession about his honorifics used on his correspondence in letters to his personal acquaintances.

He could get away with it while his parent, who strangely spoiled him, was still living. The Queen did at least remove him of royal responsibilities and honorary colonelcies in the wake of his catastrophic and, it is now clear, deceptive public statement six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last fortnight that events accelerated, following the issuance of books giving more grim details of his conduct and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again revealed Andrew's belief that he could get away with being untruthful about his contact with a notorious figure.

Society (and the press) were far ahead of the royal family. There was no one of any importance to speak up for him, a result of all those years of hubris.

Institutional Fears

The wiser monarchical figures realized that. The key objective is to transfer the crown, if not as previously at least whole and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to overcome the image of earlier rulers, proving they are useful, accountable and reactive to their people.

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

Consequences

Eventually, the famously hesitant king was prodded additional. There was no alternative. The palace had relinquished authority of the story.

Presently the loss of honorifics and the persistent and lifetime public humiliation that will pain Andrew the most.

• Reduction: Lowered to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The primary member to surrender his honorifics in recent history
• Armed Forces: Especially stinging given his duty in the Falklands war

He continues to be a counsellor of state, theoretically able to act for the king, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but none of these will truly come to pass.

Coming Developments

Can persons he encounters still show respect to him? Might they still slip up and call him Sir? Might they say Sir,

Of course, he is not retiring to an ordinary town, but to the monarchy's vast grounds at a monarchical property.

At that location, he will be provided by the sovereign with one of the estate properties and given some type of financial support.

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

Pending Matters

Matters remain unresolved. There are still records in the custody of overseas authorities to be revealed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Could legislators request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or investigate the misuse of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his actions

Perhaps for the moment the institutional damage to the institution is restricted. The message from the royal household was plainly that the revocation of titles was what the sovereign, and notably other senior monarchical figures, sought.

A Shift in Position

No more pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, remarkably, the brief communication showed evidently that the monarchy were supporting the accuser's narrative of occurrences.

Even more, for the initial instance they finally showed concern for the survivors: "These actions are judged required, regardless of the reality that he continues to deny the claims against him."

In the end it is entitlement, self-interest and laziness that will kill the monarchy. In his stupidity, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew seems never to have learned that truth.