Foolishness and Royal Self-Entitlement Ruined Andrew, and It Might Persist Yet

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

There stood the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a female youth, while a companion beamed suggestively in the rear.

Without that snapshot, shot at a gathering in 2001, who would have believed the allegations of a young woman who said she was trafficked across the ocean and compelled to have brief relations with a prince of the royal family?

A curious, indicative action by someone who had overtly asserted to have not heard of her, asserted he could never have had sex with her, and yet provided a large amount of monarchical funds to resolve a protracted court action.

A Long Period of Scandal

Considering this, discussions of the royal family acting firmly to distance themselves from Andrew are inaccurate. This affair has persisted for the better part of 15 years since that picture, and a further snapshot of Andrew ambling pleasantly with a disgraced financier came to light.

• Arrogance: How long did his siblings, perhaps even his relatives, understand that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his employees and the police were performing their duties, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he openly welcomed them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the family did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with public money.

Travel were documented in official documents: chopper flights from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for lunch, exclusive air travel instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "the travel enthusiast".

World of Deference

Furthermore the entitlement which expected subservience when he appeared in a room or the profound consciousness about his designations used on his correspondence in messages to his friends.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who inexplicably indulged him, was still alive. The monarch did at least strip him of public duties and honorary colonelcies in the aftermath of his disastrous and, it is now clear, untruthful television interview six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the publication of biographical works giving more grim information of his actions and that of his connections.

More information have again revealed Andrew's thinking that he could get away with being untruthful about his interaction with a disgraced individual.

Society (and the press) were far ahead of the royals. There was nobody of any importance to defend him, a consequence of all those years of hubris.

Monarchical Concerns

The more astute family members realized that. The one imperative is to hand down the monarchy, if not as heretofore at least complete and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of earlier rulers, showing they are useful, dutiful and attentive to their citizens.

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

The Fallout

Ultimately, the famously uncertain sovereign was prodded more. There was no other option. The institution had surrendered command of the narrative.

Now it is the stripping of titles and the persistent and life-long personal shame that will afflict Andrew most severely.

• Demotion: Demoted to just a private citizen
• Prior Instance: The first member to forfeit his titles in contemporary era
• Naval Career: Particularly stinging given his service in the engagement

He remains a constitutional officer, in principle able to act for the monarch, and he is still eighth in line to the monarchy, but none of these will ever occur.

Future Prospects

Do individuals he encounters still acknowledge him? Could they still forget themselves and call him Your Highness? Might they say Andrew,

Of course, he is not moving to suburbia, but to the sovereign's vast estate at a monarchical property.

There, he will be provided by the monarch with one of the royal residences and given some type of private allowance.

This is not his former home, where he paid a minimal rent for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit far, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Pending Matters

The situation continues. There are still files in the hands of American legislators to be revealed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Might parliament seek further action
• Financial Investigation: Or examine the improper use of public money
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his actions

Maybe for the moment the reputational impact to the monarchy is limited. The narrative from the palace was evidently that the stripping of designations was what the sovereign, and especially other senior royals, desired.

Changed Stance

An end to illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, remarkably, the short statement showed evidently that the monarchy were supporting the accuser's account of occurrences.

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

Ultimately it is arrogance, selfishness and inactivity that will kill the crown. In his folly, self-gratification and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that truth.