Foolishness and Monarchical Hubris Sunk Andrew, and It Could Continue Yet

The saga started with a single photograph, perhaps the most impactful ever taken of a member of the monarchy.

Present was the Duke of York, standing closely beside a female youth, while a companion beamed conspiratorially in the rear.

Absent that photograph, taken at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the claims of a young woman who stated she was transported across the Atlantic and compelled to have brief sexual encounters with a prince of the royal bloodline?

A strange, indicative move by someone who had publicly asserted to have never known about her, claimed he could never have had intimate contact with her, and yet handed over a substantial sum of family money to avert a drawn-out lawsuit.

Years of Disgrace

Considering this, conversations of the monarchy acting decisively to cut Andrew off are misguided. This controversy has persisted for the majority of 15 years since that image, and another snapshot of Andrew strolling pleasantly with a notorious individual came to light.

• Hubris: How long did his brothers and sisters, perhaps even his parents, realize that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his aides and the law enforcement were performing their duties, that he had some highly questionable friends given he openly welcomed them to estates.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with taxpayer funds.

Journeys were listed in royal annual reports: private aircraft travel from the estate to a sporting venue and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of regular transport, all for the comfort of "Airmiles Andy".

World of Deference

Additionally the entitlement which demanded subservience when he entered a room or the profound awareness about his royal titles used on his letterheads in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still living. The Queen did at least remove him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his ill-fated and, as revealed, mendacious public statement six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the publication of books giving more troubling particulars of his conduct and that of his companions.

Additional revelations have again exposed Andrew's assumption that he could escape lying about his relationship with a notorious figure.

People (and the media) were far ahead of the royal family. There was not a single person of any consequence to speak up for him, a outcome of all those years of presumption.

Royal Worries

The more astute family members understood that. The one imperative is to pass on the institution, if not as before at least whole and unblemished.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of past sovereigns, showing they are useful, dutiful and attentive to their people.

Andrew was putting all that in danger in an time when submission and secrecy is no longer adequate.

Aftermath

Eventually, the famously uncertain king was prodded further. There was little choice. The palace had lost control of the narrative.

Presently the loss of honorifics and the persistent and lifetime personal shame that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Lowered to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Prior Instance: The primary royal to forfeit his designations in recent history
• Armed Forces: Particularly painful given his duty in the Falklands war

He is still a counsellor of state, in principle able to stand in for the sovereign, and he is still eighth in line to the crown, but neither of these will actually come to pass.

What Lies Ahead

Will people he comes across still defer to him? Could they still forget themselves and call him Prince? Would they say Sir,

Naturally, he is not retiring to suburbia, but to the monarchy's vast property at a monarchical property.

There, he will be furnished by the sovereign with one of the estate properties and given some sort of private allowance.

This is not his former home, where he paid a nominal rent for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit far, but even so it may not be far enough.

Outstanding Concerns

This is not over. There are still records in the custody of US Congress to be made public.

• Parliamentary Interest: Will parliament request additional information
• Monetary Probe: Or examine the misuse of taxpayer funds
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a police investigation into his actions

Perhaps for the time being the reputational impact to the institution is limited. The statement from the palace was clearly that the stripping of designations was what the monarch, and particularly other senior monarchical figures, wanted.

Altered Approach

An end to pretence that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, remarkably, the concise communication showed evidently that the royals were aligning with the complainant's narrative of occurrences.

Furthermore, for the premiere occasion they ultimately showed concern for the survivors: "These actions are judged required, despite the reality that he continues to deny the claims against him."

Ultimately it is arrogance, self-seeking and laziness that will undermine the institution. In his foolishness, self-gratification and greed, Andrew seems never to have understood that lesson.