Folly and Monarchical Hubris Damaged Andrew, and It May Not Be Over Yet

It all began with a isolated photograph, possibly the most significant ever captured of a member of the monarchy.

Present was the Baron Killyleagh, with his arm around a female youth, while another individual beamed suggestively in the rear.

Lacking that image, shot at a party in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a adolescent who declared she was moved across the ocean and obliged to have brief sexual encounters with a individual of the royal family?

An odd, indicative move by someone who had publicly stated to have never known about her, claimed he could not have had intimate contact with her, and yet handed over millions of family resources to resolve a long-delayed lawsuit.

Over a Decade of Disgrace

Against this backdrop, talk of the royal family acting swiftly to distance themselves from Andrew are inaccurate. This scandal has endured for the majority of 15 years since that image, and a further image of Andrew strolling amiably with a convicted sex offender came to light.

• Self-importance: How long did his family members, possibly even his mother and father, understand that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his aides and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he openly invited them to palaces.
• Financial Extravagance: If the household did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with state resources.

Trips were printed in public records: chopper flights from the estate to a sporting venue and back again in time for lunch, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the entitlement which expected subservience when he walked into a space or the extreme awareness about his royal titles used on his correspondence in letters to his associates.

He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who inexplicably indulged him, was still alive. The monarch did at least revoke him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his ill-fated and, as revealed, mendacious television interview six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the issuance of books giving more grim information of his conduct and that of his connections.

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

Society (and the journalists) were far ahead of the royals. There was not a single person of any significance to defend him, a consequence of all those years of arrogance.

Institutional Fears

The more intelligent family members understood that. The one imperative is to hand down the crown, if not as previously at least complete and unstained.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to overcome the legacy of previous monarchs, demonstrating they are valuable, responsible and responsive to their subjects.

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

Consequences

Ultimately, the famously hesitant king was pushed more. There was little choice. The royal household had surrendered command of the narrative.

Presently the removal of designations and the ongoing and life-long social disgrace that will hurt Andrew the most.

• Reduction: Demoted to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The primary member to forfeit his designations in contemporary era
• Military Service: Particularly painful given his service in the Falklands war

He continues to be a counsellor of state, on paper able to substitute for the sovereign, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but neither of these will actually occur.

Coming Developments

Do individuals he meets still defer to him? Will they still slip up and call him Sir? Would they say Andrew,

Certainly, he is not retiring to an ordinary town, but to the sovereign's large grounds at a monarchical property.

In that place, he will be provided by the king with one of the royal residences and given some sort of financial support.

It is not his previous residence, where he paid a minimal 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 files in the custody of American legislators to be revealed.

• Political Pressure: Will lawmakers request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or examine the improper use of public money
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Maybe for the moment the institutional damage to the crown is limited. The message from the institution was clearly that the stripping of titles was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior family members, sought.

Altered Approach

An end to pretence that Andrew was acting willingly. And, remarkably, the short statement showed plainly that the institution were supporting the victim's narrative of events.

Additionally, for the first time they finally showed consideration for the survivors: "The censures are considered essential, regardless of the truth that he continues to deny the claims against him."

Finally it is arrogance, self-interest and laziness that will destroy the monarchy. In his foolishness, personal excess and greed, Andrew gives the impression never to have learned that lesson.