🔗 Share this article Folly and Monarchical Hubris Damaged Andrew, and It Might Persist Yet The saga started with a single photograph, arguably the most impactful ever taken of a royal family member. In the frame appeared the Baron Killyleagh, standing closely beside a female youth, while another individual grinned knowingly in the background. Absent that image, captured at a social event in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a young woman who declared she was trafficked across the sea and compelled to have perfunctory relations with a member of the monarchy? A curious, telling gesture by someone who had openly claimed to have never heard of her, said he could never have had sex with her, and yet provided millions of his mother's resources to resolve a drawn-out court action. A Long Period of Disgrace Against this backdrop, conversations of the royals acting decisively to cut Andrew off are wide of the mark. This controversy has continued for the better part of 15 years since that photograph, and another image of Andrew strolling amiably with a notorious individual came to light. Self-importance: For what duration did his family members, maybe even his mother and father, know that Andrew was so arrogant? Dubious Friendships: They must have known, if his employees and the law enforcement were fulfilling their roles, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he openly hosted them to estates. Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the family did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his extravagance with taxpayer funds. Travel were listed in public records: chopper flights from the estate to a country club and back again in time for lunch, exclusive air travel instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer". Existence of Entitlement Then there was the arrogance which demanded subservience when he entered a room or the supreme awareness about his designations used on his correspondence in messages to his associates. He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who strangely indulged him, was still surviving. The monarch did at least remove him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the consequence of his disastrous and, it is now clear, mendacious media appearance six years ago. Latest Events It was only in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the issuance of accounts giving more grim particulars of his conduct and that of his associates. Further disclosures have again revealed Andrew's thinking that he could avoid being untruthful about his contact with a convicted criminal. People (and the media) were far in advance of the royals. There was no one of any importance to defend him, a result of all those years of arrogance. Royal Worries The wiser monarchical figures understood that. The key objective is to transfer the crown, if not as before at least whole and unstained. For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of previous monarchs, proving they are beneficial, dutiful and reactive to their people. Andrew was putting all that in danger in an era when respect and discretion is no longer adequate. Aftermath Eventually, the well-known hesitant sovereign was pushed more. There was no alternative. The royal household had surrendered command of the account. Presently the loss of titles and the persistent and lifetime personal shame that will afflict Andrew the most. Reduction: Reduced to just a commoner Prior Instance: The initial royal to lose his titles in modern times Naval Career: Especially hurtful given his role in the Falklands war He is still a royal advisor, theoretically able to stand in for the king, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but not any of these will truly come to pass. Coming Developments Will people he comes across still show respect to him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Your Highness? Would they say Mr, Naturally, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the sovereign's vast property at Sandringham. In that place, he will be supplied by the king with one of the royal residences and given some type of private allowance. This is not his former home, where he paid a nominal rent for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit far, but even so it may not be adequate distance. Unresolved Issues The situation continues. There are still files in the hands of American legislators to be disclosed. Governmental Scrutiny: Could legislators request additional information Fiscal Review: Or scrutinize the misuse of state resources Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his actions Perhaps for the present the harm to the monarchy to the institution is limited. The narrative from the institution was clearly that the revocation of titles was what the king, and especially other senior royals, wanted. A Shift in Position The cessation of deception that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the brief communication showed clearly that the monarchy were siding with the victim's account of events. Even more, for the first time they eventually showed consideration for the survivors: "These actions are considered essential, despite the fact that he maintains his innocence of the allegations against him." In the end it is arrogance, self-seeking and inactivity that will undermine the monarchy. In his stupidity, personal excess and corruption, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that lesson.