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

It all began with a solitary photograph, perhaps the most impactful ever snapped of a individual from the royal household.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, standing closely beside a female youth, while another individual beamed conspiratorially in the backdrop.

Without that photograph, taken at a social event in 2001, few would have credited the claims of a adolescent who said she was transported across the ocean and compelled to have perfunctory relations with a prince of the royal family?

An odd, revealing gesture by someone who had overtly asserted to have no been aware of her, asserted he could not have had sex with her, and yet provided millions of family resources to resolve a protracted legal case.

Over a Decade of Disgrace

Considering this, conversations of the royals acting decisively to distance themselves from Andrew are inaccurate. This controversy has continued for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and another image of Andrew ambling pleasantly with a disgraced financier emerged.

• Arrogance: To what extent did his siblings, possibly even his relatives, know that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his employees and the law enforcement were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he unabashedly welcomed them to estates.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the family did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with public money.

Trips were printed in official documents: chopper travel from the palace to a golf course and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the comfort of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Additionally the entitlement which demanded deference when he appeared in a area or the extreme obsession about his honorifics used on his correspondence in messages to his friends.

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

Current Situation

Just in the last 14 days that events progressed rapidly, following the issuance of biographical works giving more troubling details of his actions and that of his companions.

More information have again revealed Andrew's belief that he could escape deceiving about his interaction with a convicted criminal.

People (and the media) were far ahead of the monarchy. There was not a single person of any consequence to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of hubris.

Institutional Fears

The more astute family members recognized that. The primary concern is to hand down the monarchy, if not as previously at least intact and unstained.

For generations the last 190 years trying to undo the reputation of past sovereigns, showing they are beneficial, responsible and reactive to their people.

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

Consequences

Finally, the well-known hesitant king was prodded further. There was no other option. The palace had lost control of the account.

Presently the stripping of designations and the persistent and life-long personal shame that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Demoted to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Past Example: The first royal to surrender his designations in recent history
• Military Service: Particularly hurtful given his duty in the conflict

He remains a royal advisor, in principle able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but neither of these will actually come to pass.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he encounters still show respect to him? Will they still slip up and call him Sir? Might they say Sir,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the monarchy's extensive estate at Sandringham.

At that location, he will be furnished by the monarch with one of the estate properties and given some sort of private allowance.

This is not his former home, where he paid a minimal rent for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit distant, but even so it may not be far enough.

Outstanding Concerns

Matters remain unresolved. There are still records in the hands of US Congress to be made public.

• Parliamentary Interest: Could legislators demand more
• Fiscal Review: Or examine the misuse of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a criminal probe into his conduct

Perhaps for the present the reputational impact to the monarchy is contained. The statement from the royal household was clearly that the revocation of titles was what the king, and especially other senior monarchical figures, desired.

Changed Stance

The cessation of deception that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the concise announcement showed clearly that the institution were siding with the complainant's account of occurrences.

Additionally, for the initial instance they eventually showed concern for the survivors: "These actions are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he persists in refuting the allegations against him."

Ultimately it is arrogance, self-interest and laziness that will kill the institution. In his foolishness, self-indulgence and venality, Andrew seems never to have understood that truth.