Folly and Royal Self-Entitlement Damaged Andrew, and It May Not Be Over Yet

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

There stood the Duke of York, arm-in-arm a female youth, while another individual grinned knowingly in the rear.

Lacking that snapshot, taken at a party in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the claims of a young woman who said she was moved across the Atlantic and forced to have brief relations with a individual of the monarchy?

An odd, telling move by someone who had openly stated to have never heard of her, claimed he could never have had sex with her, and yet handed over a large amount of monarchical money to resolve a drawn-out legal case.

Over a Decade of Disgrace

Considering this, conversations of the royal family acting decisively to cut Andrew off are wide of the mark. This controversy has continued for the majority of 15 years since that image, and another image of Andrew ambling pleasantly with a convicted sex offender came to light.

• Self-importance: How long did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his mother and father, understand that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his aides and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he openly invited them to royal residences.
• Monetary Excess: If the household did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Journeys were listed in public records: helicopter flights from the estate to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, private flights instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Additionally the presumption which expected deference when he walked into a space or the extreme consciousness about his honorifics used on his official documents in communication to his friends.

He could get away with it while his parent, who strangely spoiled him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least strip him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his disastrous and, it is now clear, untruthful media appearance six years ago.

Latest Events

It was only in the last fortnight that events progressed rapidly, following the publication of biographical works giving more troubling particulars of his conduct and that of his companions.

Additional revelations have again highlighted Andrew's assumption that he could avoid lying about his interaction with a notorious figure.

People (and the press) were far more perceptive of the monarchy. There was no one of any importance to support him, a result of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The more astute monarchical figures realized that. The primary concern is to hand down the crown, if not as before at least complete and unblemished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the reputation of earlier rulers, demonstrating they are useful, dutiful and attentive to their subjects.

He was placing all that in danger in an age when deference and secrecy is no longer enough.

The Fallout

Finally, the notoriously uncertain king was pushed additional. There was no alternative. The royal household had relinquished authority of the account.

Now it is the loss of designations and the persistent and life-long personal shame that will hurt Andrew most deeply.

• Reduction: Reduced to just a private citizen
• Prior Instance: The primary member to lose his designations in contemporary era
• Naval Career: Particularly painful given his service in the Falklands war

He continues to be a constitutional officer, theoretically able to stand in for the king, and he is still in the lineage to the throne, but none of these will truly come to pass.

Coming Developments

Can persons he encounters still acknowledge him? Could they still make mistakes and call him Prince? Might they say Andrew,

Certainly, he is not retiring to a common area, but to the sovereign's extensive property at Sandringham.

There, he will be provided by the king with one of the estate properties and given some form of personal stipend.

It is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a token lease for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit distant, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Outstanding Concerns

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

• Political Pressure: Might lawmakers request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or investigate the improper use of public money
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his actions

Perhaps for the present the reputational impact to the monarchy is contained. The statement from the royal household was plainly that the revocation of honorifics was what the king, and notably other senior royals, wanted.

Changed Stance

No more illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, significantly, the concise announcement showed plainly that the monarchy were aligning with the accuser's narrative of incidents.

Additionally, for the first time they finally showed consideration for the victims: "These actions are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the reality that he persists in refuting the accusations against him."

Ultimately it is presumption, self-interest and indolence that will destroy the monarchy. In his stupidity, personal excess and greed, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that reality.