Stupidity and Royal Self-Entitlement Ruined Andrew, and It Might Persist Yet

The saga started with a solitary photograph, arguably the most consequential ever captured of a member of the monarchy.

Present was the Baron Killyleagh, with his arm around a female youth, while an associate grinned suggestively in the rear.

Absent that photograph, captured at a social event in 2001, few would have credited the claims of a teenager who said she was trafficked across the Atlantic and compelled to have cursory relations with a prince of the royal family?

An odd, indicative gesture by someone who had overtly stated to have no been aware of her, asserted he could not have had relations with her, and yet handed over millions of family money to settle a drawn-out court action.

A Long Period of Disgrace

In this context, talk of the monarchy acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This affair has continued for the majority of 15 years since that photograph, and another snapshot of Andrew walking pleasantly with a disgraced financier surfaced.

• Hubris: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his parents, understand that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Questionable Associations: They must have known, if his aides and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he openly welcomed them to estates.
• Financial Extravagance: If the family did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his extravagance with taxpayer funds.

Travel were listed in royal annual reports: chopper travel 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 comfort of "the frequent flyer".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the arrogance which expected subservience when he entered a room or the profound awareness about his honorifics used on his letterheads in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who unaccountably pampered him, was still surviving. The sovereign did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his disastrous and, we now know, mendacious media appearance six years ago.

Recent Developments

Merely in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the issuance of books giving more disturbing information of his behavior and that of his companions.

Further disclosures have again exposed Andrew's thinking that he could get away with being untruthful about his contact with a convicted criminal.

The public (and the journalists) were far ahead of the royals. There was not a single person of any significance to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of arrogance.

Institutional Fears

The more astute monarchical figures realized that. The one imperative is to pass on the monarchy, if not as heretofore at least complete and unblemished.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to undo the legacy of earlier rulers, demonstrating they are valuable, dutiful and responsive to their people.

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

Consequences

Finally, the famously hesitant king was pressured more. There was little choice. The institution had surrendered command of the story.

Presently the stripping of honorifics and the continued and permanent personal shame that will hurt Andrew most deeply.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The primary royal to surrender his designations in modern times
• Armed Forces: Particularly painful given his duty in the Falklands war

He remains a royal advisor, theoretically able to stand in for the king, and he is still in the lineage to the throne, but not any of these will truly happen.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he encounters still acknowledge him? Will they still slip up and call him Your Highness? Will they even say Sir,

Certainly, he is not withdrawing to a common area, but to the sovereign's vast grounds at Sandringham.

At that location, he will be supplied by the monarch 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 token lease for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit distant, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Pending Matters

The situation continues. There are still records in the possession of American legislators to be made public.

• Parliamentary Interest: Might 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 conduct

Possibly for the present the institutional damage to the crown is restricted. The narrative from the institution was clearly that the removal of honorifics was what the monarch, and notably other senior family members, sought.

Altered Approach

No more illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, remarkably, the concise announcement showed plainly that the institution were siding with the complainant's version of occurrences.

Additionally, for the initial instance they ultimately showed concern for the affected individuals: "The censures are considered essential, despite the fact that he maintains his innocence of the allegations against him."

In the end it is arrogance, self-interest and inactivity that will kill the institution. In his stupidity, personal excess and venality, Andrew appears never to have understood that reality.