🔗 Share this article Folly and Regal Arrogance Sunk Andrew, and It Might Persist Yet It all began with a single photograph, possibly the most significant ever taken of a member of the monarchy. In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a female youth, while another individual grinned suggestively in the background. Lacking that image, taken at a gathering in 2001, who would have believed the claims of a young woman who stated she was moved across the sea and compelled to have brief intimate contact with a prince of the royal family? A strange, telling move by someone who had openly stated to have never known about her, asserted he could not have had intimate contact with her, and yet paid millions of family funds to resolve a drawn-out court action. Over a Decade of Controversy Against this backdrop, discussions of the monarchy acting firmly to distance themselves from Andrew are misguided. This affair has endured for the majority of 15 years since that image, and another photo of Andrew walking amiably with a disgraced financier emerged. Hubris: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his mother and father, realize that Andrew was so presumptuous? Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his aides and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he openly invited them to estates. Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with state resources. Trips were documented in official documents: private aircraft transfers from the palace to a sporting venue and back again in time for dining, exclusive air travel instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "Airmiles Andy". A Life of Privilege Additionally the presumption which demanded subservience when he walked into a room or the supreme obsession about his designations used on his official documents in communication to his friends. He could get away with it while his parent, who unaccountably pampered him, was still alive. The monarch did at least strip him of public duties and military positions in the wake of his disastrous and, we now know, untruthful media appearance six years ago. Recent Developments Just in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the release of biographical works giving more troubling details of his conduct and that of his connections. Further disclosures have again revealed Andrew's belief that he could get away with lying about his interaction with a notorious figure. Society (and the press) were far ahead of the royals. There was no one of any importance to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of arrogance. Monarchical Concerns The more astute family members recognized that. The one imperative is to hand down the monarchy, if not as previously at least intact and unstained. Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of previous monarchs, proving they are beneficial, responsible and attentive to their citizens. His actions endangered all that in danger in an time when respect and privacy is no longer sufficient. The Fallout Finally, the famously indecisive king was pushed additional. There was no other option. The royal household had relinquished authority of the account. Currently the removal of designations and the continued and lifetime social disgrace that will afflict Andrew most severely. Reduction: Reduced to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor Prior Instance: The primary monarch to lose his honorifics in modern times Naval Career: Especially stinging given his role in the engagement He continues to be a royal advisor, in principle able to substitute for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the throne, but none of these will truly occur. What Lies Ahead Can persons he comes across still acknowledge him? Will they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Might they say Andrew, Naturally, he is not withdrawing to suburbia, but to the sovereign's vast estate at Sandringham. In that place, he will be provided by the monarch with one of the estate properties and given some type of private allowance. It is not his previous residence, where he paid a minimal payment for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit far, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed. Pending Matters This is not over. There are still records in the possession of American legislators to be revealed. Governmental Scrutiny: Might lawmakers demand more Monetary Probe: Or investigate the improper use of taxpayer funds Legal Possibility: There may even be a criminal probe into his behavior Maybe for the time being the reputational impact to the monarchy is restricted. The statement from the institution was clearly that the revocation of honorifics was what the monarch, and especially other senior family members, wanted. Altered Approach The cessation of illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the brief announcement showed clearly that the institution were aligning with the victim's version of incidents. Additionally, for the initial instance they finally showed concern for the survivors: "The measures are judged required, despite the truth that he persists in refuting the claims against him." Ultimately it is entitlement, selfishness and laziness that will destroy the institution. In his stupidity, personal excess and corruption, Andrew appears never to have grasped that reality.