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

It all began with a solitary photograph, possibly the most impactful ever snapped of a royal family member.

Present was the Baron Killyleagh, standing closely beside a young woman, while another individual grinned knowingly in the background.

Without that image, shot at a gathering in 2001, who would have believed the allegations of a adolescent who said she was transported across the Atlantic and obliged to have brief relations with a individual of the royal family?

A curious, revealing action by someone who had publicly asserted to have never been aware of her, claimed he could no have had relations with her, and yet handed over millions of monarchical resources to avert a long-delayed lawsuit.

Years of Scandal

Against this backdrop, discussions of the royal family acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are inaccurate. This affair has endured for the majority of 15 years since that photograph, and a further image of Andrew ambling amiably with a disgraced financier came to light.

• Hubris: How long did his brothers and sisters, maybe even his relatives, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his aides and the police were fulfilling their roles, that he had some highly questionable associates given he publicly hosted them to estates.
• Financial Extravagance: If the family did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with taxpayer funds.

Journeys were printed in official documents: chopper travel from the palace to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

World of Deference

Additionally the presumption which required deference when he entered a area or the profound obsession about his honorifics used on his official documents in communication to his associates.

He could get away with it while his parent, who unaccountably pampered him, was still surviving. The monarch did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his catastrophic and, as revealed, untruthful public statement six years ago.

Recent Developments

It was only in the last 14 days that events progressed rapidly, following the publication of accounts giving more troubling particulars of his behavior and that of his associates.

Additional revelations have again exposed Andrew's assumption that he could avoid deceiving about his relationship with a convicted criminal.

Society (and the press) were far ahead of the monarchy. There was not a single person of any consequence to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of arrogance.

Royal Worries

The more astute royals realized that. The one imperative is to hand down the institution, if not as heretofore at least intact and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the legacy of past sovereigns, showing they are useful, dutiful and reactive to their people.

He was placing all that in jeopardy in an age when respect and secrecy is no longer adequate.

The Fallout

Eventually, the famously hesitant sovereign was prodded more. There was no alternative. The royal household had relinquished authority of the story.

Now it is the stripping of titles and the ongoing and lifetime personal shame that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just a commoner
• Prior Instance: The initial member to surrender his honorifics in recent history
• Military Service: Especially painful given his service in the engagement

He continues to be a royal advisor, in principle able to act for the monarch, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but none of these will ever come to pass.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he meets still show respect to him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Sir? Would they say Mr,

Certainly, he is not withdrawing to suburbia, but to the sovereign's extensive grounds at a monarchical property.

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

This is not his former home, where he paid a token rent 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 revealed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Will legislators demand more
• Fiscal Review: Or investigate the improper use of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Perhaps for the moment the harm to the monarchy to the crown is restricted. The narrative from the palace was plainly that the stripping of honorifics was what the sovereign, and especially other senior family members, wanted.

Changed Stance

The cessation of deception that Andrew was acting willingly. And, remarkably, the short announcement showed clearly that the institution were supporting the victim's version of incidents.

Even more, for the initial instance they ultimately showed regard for the affected individuals: "The censures are judged required, despite the fact that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

In the end it is arrogance, self-seeking and indolence that will destroy the crown. In his folly, self-indulgence and venality, Andrew seems never to have learned that reality.