Stupidity and Monarchical Hubris Sunk Andrew, and It Might Persist Yet

It all began with a solitary photograph, possibly the most impactful ever snapped of a individual from the royal household.

Present was the Duke of York, arm-in-arm a young woman, while a companion beamed conspiratorially in the background.

Lacking that image, captured at a gathering in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a teenager who said she was transported across the Atlantic and forced to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a prince of the monarchy?

A strange, revealing gesture by someone who had publicly asserted to have no known about her, asserted he could not have had relations with her, and yet provided a substantial sum of his mother's resources to resolve a protracted legal case.

A Long Period of Controversy

Considering this, discussions of the royals acting firmly to cut Andrew off are inaccurate. This scandal has endured for the better part of 15 years since that picture, and a further snapshot of Andrew strolling amiably with a notorious individual came to light.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his family members, perhaps even his parents, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his staff and the police were doing their jobs, that he had some highly questionable companions given he unabashedly invited them to royal residences.
• Financial Extravagance: If the household did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Travel were documented in royal annual reports: helicopter transfers from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of regular transport, all for the comfort of "Airmiles Andy".

Existence of Entitlement

Then there was the entitlement which required subservience when he walked into a area or the supreme consciousness about his designations used on his official documents in letters to his associates.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who strangely spoiled him, was still surviving. The sovereign did at least remove him of official roles and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his ill-fated and, we now know, untruthful public statement six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last two weeks that events sped up, following the release of accounts giving more grim information of his behavior and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's assumption that he could escape being untruthful about his relationship with a notorious figure.

People (and the media) were far more perceptive of the royal family. There was not a single person of any importance to defend him, a outcome of all those years of arrogance.

Monarchical Concerns

The more astute royals recognized that. The primary concern is to transfer the monarchy, if not as previously at least complete and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of past sovereigns, showing they are valuable, responsible and reactive to their subjects.

His actions endangered all that in jeopardy in an era when submission and discretion is no longer adequate.

Aftermath

Eventually, the well-known indecisive king was prodded more. There was no alternative. The institution had relinquished authority of the account.

Currently the stripping of honorifics and the continued and lifetime public humiliation that will hurt Andrew the most.

• Demotion: Lowered to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The initial royal to forfeit his honorifics in recent history
• Military Service: Notably hurtful given his service in the engagement

He remains a constitutional officer, on paper able to stand in for the sovereign, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but not any of these will actually occur.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he meets still show respect to him? Will they still slip up and call him Your Highness? Might they say Mr,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to a common area, but to the royal family's extensive estate at Sandringham.

At that location, he will be furnished by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some form of personal stipend.

This is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a minimal rent for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit distant, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Unresolved Issues

This is not over. There are still files in the hands of American legislators to be disclosed.

• Political Pressure: Might lawmakers seek further action
• Monetary Probe: Or examine the improper use of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Maybe for the moment the institutional damage to the crown is contained. The statement from the royal household was clearly that the revocation of honorifics was what the sovereign, and notably other senior monarchical figures, sought.

Altered Approach

An end to illusion that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the brief statement showed plainly that the royals were aligning with the victim's version of incidents.

Additionally, for the premiere occasion they ultimately showed consideration for the victims: "These actions are considered essential, notwithstanding the truth that he continues to deny the allegations against him."

Finally it is arrogance, self-interest and laziness that will undermine the institution. In his folly, self-indulgence and greed, Andrew seems never to have understood that reality.