🔗 Share this article Foolishness and Regal Arrogance Sunk Andrew, and It Might Persist Yet It all began with a isolated photograph, arguably the most consequential ever taken of a member of the monarchy. In the frame appeared the Baron Killyleagh, with his arm around a young woman, while a companion smiled suggestively in the backdrop. Without that image, shot at a gathering in 2001, few would have credited the claims of a teenager who stated she was trafficked across the sea and forced to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a prince of the royal family? A strange, revealing gesture by someone who had openly claimed to have no heard of her, claimed he could not have had relations with her, and yet handed over millions of family funds to settle a drawn-out court action. Years of Controversy In this context, talk of the monarchy acting decisively to distance themselves from Andrew are wide of the mark. This controversy has continued for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and a further image of Andrew ambling pleasantly with a notorious individual came to light. Self-importance: For what duration did his siblings, possibly even his mother and father, realize that Andrew was so arrogant? Problematic Connections: They must have understood, if his staff and the police were fulfilling their roles, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he unabashedly welcomed them to estates. Monetary Excess: If the household did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources. Journeys were documented in official documents: private aircraft flights from the estate to a country club and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the benefit of "the travel enthusiast". A Life of Privilege Furthermore the presumption which required subservience when he appeared in a space or the extreme consciousness about his honorifics used on his official documents in communication to his personal acquaintances. He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who inexplicably indulged him, was still living. The Queen did at least strip him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the consequence of his ill-fated and, we now know, deceptive television interview six years ago. Recent Developments Merely in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the publication of books giving more troubling particulars of his behavior and that of his associates. Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's belief that he could avoid deceiving about his relationship with a convicted criminal. People (and the press) were far more perceptive of the royals. There was nobody of any significance to support him, a consequence of all those years of arrogance. Royal Worries The more astute monarchical figures understood that. The primary concern is to hand down the crown, if not as previously at least complete and unstained. They have spent the last 190 years trying to reverse the image of previous monarchs, demonstrating they are valuable, accountable and reactive to their people. He was placing all that in peril in an era when submission and discretion is no longer sufficient. Consequences Finally, the famously uncertain king was pushed further. There was no other option. The institution had lost control of the account. Now it is the stripping of designations and the persistent and lifetime personal shame that will afflict Andrew the most. Reduction: Demoted to just a commoner Historical Precedent: The initial royal to forfeit his titles in modern times Naval Career: Especially painful given his duty in the engagement He is still a counsellor of state, on paper able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still in the lineage to the monarchy, but not any of these will truly occur. Future Prospects Will people he comes across still show respect to him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Prince? Will they even say Sir, Certainly, he is not withdrawing to suburbia, but to the monarchy's vast estate at a royal residence. In that place, he will be provided by the monarch with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of financial support. This is not his previous residence, where he paid a nominal payment for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit distant, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed. Unresolved Issues This is not over. There are still records in the possession of US Congress to be disclosed. Parliamentary Interest: Might legislators seek further action Financial Investigation: Or examine the waste of taxpayer funds Criminal Investigation: There may even be a police investigation into his actions Perhaps for the time being the institutional damage to the monarchy is limited. The statement from the institution was evidently that the revocation of designations was what the king, and notably other senior monarchical figures, wanted. Altered Approach The cessation of pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the concise announcement showed clearly that the monarchy were aligning with the accuser's account of incidents. Additionally, for the initial instance they finally showed consideration for the survivors: "These actions are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the reality that he continues to deny the claims against him." In the end it is entitlement, self-seeking and indolence that will destroy the institution. In his foolishness, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew appears never to have learned that truth.