Foolishness and Regal Arrogance Ruined Andrew, and It May Not Be Over Yet

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

There stood the Duke of York, with his arm around a young woman, while another individual grinned knowingly in the background.

Lacking that photograph, taken at a gathering in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a young woman who declared she was trafficked across the ocean and compelled to have cursory intimate contact with a individual of the royal family?

A strange, telling action by someone who had overtly stated to have no known about her, claimed he could not have had relations with her, and yet paid a large amount of his mother's money to resolve a long-delayed court action.

A Long Period of Disgrace

Considering this, discussions of the royal family acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are inaccurate. This scandal has continued for the better part of 15 years since that photograph, and another snapshot of Andrew walking pleasantly with a notorious individual came to light.

• Hubris: How long did his siblings, possibly even his parents, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his employees and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he openly welcomed them to palaces.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the household did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with taxpayer funds.

Journeys were printed in royal annual reports: helicopter flights from the royal residence to a golf course and back again in time for midday meal, chartered planes instead of regular transport, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the arrogance which expected subservience when he entered a room or the supreme obsession about his honorifics used on his correspondence in messages to his associates.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who inexplicably spoiled him, was still living. The sovereign did at least revoke him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his disastrous and, as revealed, untruthful television interview six years ago.

Recent Developments

It was only in the last fortnight that events accelerated, following the issuance of accounts giving more grim information of his behavior and that of his associates.

Additional revelations have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could get away with lying about his contact with a notorious figure.

People (and the media) were far more perceptive of the royal family. There was no one of any consequence to defend him, a outcome of all those years of arrogance.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser family members realized that. The primary concern is to pass on the institution, if not as before at least whole and unblemished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of previous monarchs, demonstrating they are valuable, dutiful and attentive to their people.

His actions endangered all that in danger in an time when respect and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

Consequences

Finally, the famously indecisive sovereign was prodded more. There was no other option. The royal household had relinquished authority of the account.

Presently the loss of designations and the persistent and permanent social disgrace that will afflict Andrew the most.

• Reduction: Reduced to just a commoner
• Prior Instance: The initial member to surrender his honorifics in contemporary era
• Military Service: Especially painful given his service in the engagement

He remains a counsellor of state, in principle able to act for the sovereign, and he is still in the lineage to the crown, but not any of these will actually come to pass.

Coming Developments

Will people he encounters still acknowledge him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Prince? Would they say Mr,

Certainly, he is not moving to an ordinary town, but to the royal family's extensive estate 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 personal stipend.

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

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still records in the possession of overseas authorities to be made public.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Will parliament request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or investigate the waste of state resources
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a police investigation into his behavior

Possibly for the time being the harm to the monarchy to the crown is limited. The narrative from the royal household was evidently that the removal of honorifics was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior family members, sought.

Altered Approach

The cessation of pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the short statement showed clearly that the monarchy were aligning with the victim's narrative of events.

Furthermore, for the initial instance they finally showed regard for the affected individuals: "The censures are deemed necessary, regardless of the reality that he continues to deny the claims against him."

In the end it is arrogance, self-interest and indolence that will destroy the monarchy. In his stupidity, personal excess and greed, Andrew seems never to have learned that lesson.