🔗 Share this article Stupidity and Regal Arrogance Damaged Andrew, and It Might Persist Yet It all began with a isolated photograph, possibly the most impactful ever taken of a member of the monarchy. Present was the Duke of York, with his arm around a young woman, while a companion grinned conspiratorially in the background. Lacking that photograph, shot at a party in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a young woman who declared she was trafficked across the sea and compelled to have brief intimate contact with a member of the monarchy? An odd, telling move by someone who had openly stated to have not been aware of her, asserted he could no have had sex with her, and yet provided a large amount of family resources to resolve a drawn-out lawsuit. Over a Decade of Controversy Against this backdrop, talk of the monarchy acting decisively to distance themselves from Andrew are wide of the mark. This affair has persisted for the majority of 15 years since that photograph, and a further image of Andrew ambling amiably with a notorious individual emerged. Arrogance: For what duration did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his relatives, know that Andrew was so arrogant? Questionable Associations: They must have realized, if his employees and the police were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he publicly hosted them to estates. Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the household did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his extravagance with taxpayer funds. Trips were documented in public records: chopper flights from the estate to a country club and back again in time for lunch, exclusive air travel instead of regular transport, all for the comfort of "the travel enthusiast". World of Deference Then there was the entitlement which demanded deference when he appeared in a area or the extreme obsession about his royal titles used on his letterheads in letters to his friends. He could get away with it while his parent, who strangely pampered him, was still living. The sovereign did at least remove him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the aftermath of his catastrophic and, we now know, deceptive media appearance six years ago. Recent Developments Merely in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the publication of books giving more disturbing details of his behavior and that of his companions. Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's belief that he could get away with deceiving about his interaction with a disgraced individual. Society (and the press) were far in advance of the monarchy. There was not a single person of any consequence to support him, a consequence of all those years of presumption. Royal Worries The more astute monarchical figures understood that. The key objective is to pass on the monarchy, if not as previously at least complete and untarnished. For generations the last 190 years trying to undo the legacy of earlier rulers, showing they are valuable, responsible and reactive to their people. His actions endangered all that in jeopardy in an era when deference and discretion is no longer sufficient. The Fallout Finally, the notoriously uncertain monarch was prodded additional. There was no alternative. The institution had lost control of the narrative. Presently the stripping of titles and the ongoing and lifetime public humiliation that will hurt Andrew most deeply. Downgrading: Lowered to just a private citizen Past Example: The first monarch to forfeit his designations in modern times Naval Career: Notably painful given his role in the Falklands war He is still a constitutional officer, in principle able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still in the lineage to the monarchy, but neither of these will actually happen. Coming Developments Do individuals he comes across still acknowledge him? Will they still make mistakes and call him Sir? Will they even say Andrew, Of course, he is not moving to suburbia, but to the sovereign's extensive property at a monarchical property. In that place, he will be furnished by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of personal stipend. This is not his former home, where he paid a token rent for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit remote, but even so it may not be adequate distance. Outstanding Concerns The situation continues. There are still files in the possession of US Congress to be disclosed. Parliamentary Interest: Will parliament demand more Fiscal Review: Or investigate the improper use of state resources Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his actions Maybe for the time being the institutional damage to the crown is limited. The narrative from the royal household was evidently that the stripping of honorifics was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior royals, sought. Altered Approach No more illusion that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the brief announcement showed evidently that the royals were supporting the victim's version of occurrences. Even more, for the premiere occasion they eventually showed concern for the affected individuals: "The measures are considered essential, despite the truth that he maintains his innocence of the allegations against him." Ultimately it is arrogance, selfishness and inactivity that will undermine the monarchy. In his foolishness, self-gratification and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have grasped that lesson.