Stupidity and Regal Arrogance Sunk Andrew, and It May Not Be Over Yet

The saga started with a isolated photograph, perhaps the most consequential ever taken of a member of the monarchy.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, standing closely beside a young woman, while an associate grinned knowingly in the rear.

Absent that image, shot at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the claims of a teenager who said she was trafficked across the Atlantic and compelled to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a member of the royal bloodline?

A strange, telling move by someone who had openly asserted to have no known about her, asserted he could no have had sex with her, and yet handed over a large amount of his mother's money to resolve a protracted legal case.

Over a Decade of Controversy

In this context, discussions of the monarchy acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are misguided. This affair has continued for the majority of 15 years since that image, and a further image of Andrew walking congenially with a disgraced financier surfaced.

• Self-importance: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, maybe even his mother and father, understand that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Questionable Associations: They must have understood, if his staff and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable friends given he publicly welcomed them to estates.
• Financial Extravagance: If the household did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with taxpayer funds.

Travel were documented in official documents: private aircraft travel from the estate to a country club and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of regular transport, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the arrogance which expected respect when he appeared in a room or the extreme awareness about his royal titles used on his letterheads in communication to his associates.

He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who inexplicably indulged him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least remove him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the wake of his catastrophic and, as revealed, mendacious public statement six years ago.

Recent Developments

Merely in the last fortnight that events progressed rapidly, following the publication of biographical works giving more disturbing particulars of his actions and that of his connections.

More information have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could avoid deceiving about his contact with a notorious figure.

People (and the media) were far more perceptive of the royals. There was no one of any significance to speak up for him, a result of all those years of presumption.

Institutional Fears

The more astute royals understood that. The primary concern is to transfer the crown, if not as heretofore at least intact and unblemished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to undo the image of earlier rulers, showing they are beneficial, dutiful and reactive to their people.

His actions endangered all that in jeopardy in an age when submission and secrecy is no longer adequate.

Aftermath

Eventually, the well-known uncertain monarch was pushed additional. There was little choice. The palace had relinquished authority of the story.

Currently the removal of designations and the persistent and lifetime public humiliation that will pain Andrew most deeply.

• Reduction: Demoted to just a commoner
• Prior Instance: The primary monarch to lose his designations in modern times
• Naval Career: Particularly hurtful given his service in the conflict

He continues to be a counsellor of state, in principle able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still in the lineage to the throne, but not any of these will truly occur.

Future Prospects

Do individuals he comes across still acknowledge him? Could they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Will they even say Mr,

Naturally, he is not retiring to suburbia, but to the royal family's vast estate at a monarchical property.

There, he will be provided by the sovereign with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of financial support.

This differs from his prior accommodation, 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.

Pending Matters

The situation continues. There are still documents in the custody of American legislators to be revealed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Might parliament seek further action
• Financial Investigation: Or scrutinize the improper use of taxpayer funds
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a criminal probe into his conduct

Possibly for the time being the reputational impact to the crown is limited. The narrative from the palace was clearly that the removal of titles was what the sovereign, and especially other senior royals, wanted.

Altered Approach

The cessation of illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, remarkably, the concise communication showed clearly that the royals were aligning with the complainant's version of occurrences.

Furthermore, for the first time they finally showed concern for the affected individuals: "The censures are deemed necessary, regardless of the truth that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

Finally it is entitlement, self-seeking and laziness that will destroy the crown. In his stupidity, personal excess and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have learned that lesson.