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

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

In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a young woman, while a companion beamed knowingly in the backdrop.

Lacking that photograph, captured at a gathering in 2001, who would have believed the claims of a teenager who stated she was moved across the ocean and forced to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a prince of the royal bloodline?

A curious, telling move by someone who had openly claimed to have no been aware of her, asserted he could no have had relations with her, and yet provided a large amount of his mother's funds to avert a protracted court action.

Over a Decade of Scandal

Considering this, discussions of the monarchy acting firmly to distance themselves from Andrew are misguided. This scandal has endured for the majority of 15 years since that photograph, and a further snapshot of Andrew walking pleasantly with a disgraced financier came to light.

• Hubris: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, perhaps even his mother and father, understand that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Problematic Connections: They must have understood, if his aides and the law enforcement were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he unabashedly invited them to palaces.
• Monetary Excess: If the household did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Trips were listed in official documents: chopper transfers from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for dining, private flights instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Additionally the presumption which demanded respect when he entered a area or the extreme obsession about his royal titles used on his official documents in letters to his associates.

He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still living. The monarch did at least remove him of public duties and honorary colonelcies in the wake of his disastrous and, as revealed, deceptive television interview six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last two weeks that events accelerated, following the release of accounts giving more disturbing information of his conduct and that of his companions.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's belief that he could escape deceiving about his relationship with a disgraced individual.

People (and the press) were far in advance of the royal family. There was no one of any consequence to defend him, a outcome of all those years of hubris.

Royal Worries

The more intelligent royals recognized that. The key objective is to pass on the monarchy, if not as previously at least intact and unblemished.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to reverse the image of past sovereigns, demonstrating they are useful, accountable and attentive to their citizens.

Andrew was putting all that in peril in an era when deference and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

Aftermath

Eventually, the notoriously indecisive king was pressured further. There was no other option. The palace had relinquished authority of the narrative.

Presently the removal of designations and the ongoing and permanent social disgrace that will hurt Andrew most deeply.

• Downgrading: Demoted to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The primary member to forfeit his designations in recent history
• Armed Forces: Especially stinging given his role in the Falklands war

He is still a royal advisor, in principle able to stand in for the sovereign, and he is still in the lineage to the throne, but neither of these will truly occur.

Future Prospects

Do individuals he encounters still acknowledge him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Prince? Might they say Mr,

Of course, he is not withdrawing to suburbia, but to the monarchy's large grounds at Sandringham.

At that location, he will be provided by the monarch with one of the estate properties and given some type of private allowance.

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

Outstanding Concerns

This is not over. There are still records in the possession of overseas authorities to be revealed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Could lawmakers request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or scrutinize the misuse of taxpayer funds
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Maybe for the moment the institutional damage to the monarchy is restricted. The message from the institution was clearly that the revocation of titles was what the king, and especially other senior monarchical figures, desired.

A Shift in Position

An end to illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, significantly, the brief communication showed clearly that the royals were aligning with the accuser's version of incidents.

Additionally, for the initial instance they finally showed regard for the victims: "The censures are judged required, notwithstanding the reality that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."

Ultimately it is arrogance, selfishness and laziness that will kill the crown. In his stupidity, personal excess and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have learned that lesson.