Foolishness and Royal Self-Entitlement Ruined Andrew, and It Might Persist Yet

It all began with a solitary photograph, perhaps the most consequential ever snapped of a member of the monarchy.

In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a teenage girl, while an associate grinned suggestively in the rear.

Lacking that snapshot, shot at a party in 2001, few would have credited the assertions of a young woman who stated she was moved across the ocean and forced to have brief relations with a prince of the monarchy?

An odd, indicative action by someone who had publicly claimed to have no known about her, asserted he could never have had relations with her, and yet provided a substantial sum of his mother's resources to settle a protracted court action.

Over a Decade of Disgrace

Considering this, talk of the monarchy acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are inaccurate. This scandal has continued for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and another snapshot of Andrew strolling amiably with a notorious individual surfaced.

• Hubris: To what extent did his family members, perhaps even his parents, understand that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have known, if his aides and the police were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he openly invited them to estates.
• Financial Extravagance: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with public money.

Travel were listed in public records: private aircraft transfers from the estate to a golf course and back again in time for dining, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "the travel enthusiast".

Existence of Entitlement

Then there was the presumption which expected respect when he entered a space or the supreme awareness about his royal titles used on his correspondence in communication to his friends.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still living. The monarch did at least strip him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his disastrous and, we now know, untruthful public statement six years ago.

Recent Developments

It was only in the last fortnight that events progressed rapidly, following the release of biographical works giving more grim particulars of his actions and that of his companions.

Additional revelations have again revealed Andrew's assumption that he could avoid lying about his contact with a convicted criminal.

People (and the press) were far in advance of the monarchy. There was no one of any importance to support him, a outcome of all those years of arrogance.

Monarchical Concerns

The more intelligent family members recognized that. The one imperative is to transfer the monarchy, if not as previously at least complete and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of earlier rulers, proving they are beneficial, dutiful and reactive to their citizens.

Andrew was putting all that in danger in an age when respect and privacy is no longer adequate.

Aftermath

Eventually, the notoriously hesitant king was pushed more. There was no other option. The institution had relinquished authority of the story.

Presently the stripping of honorifics and the continued and life-long social disgrace that will hurt Andrew the most.

• Reduction: Lowered to just a commoner
• Past Example: The first member to lose his titles in modern times
• Armed Forces: Particularly painful given his service in the Falklands war

He remains a royal advisor, in principle able to act for the king, and he is still in the succession to the monarchy, but neither of these will truly happen.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he encounters still show respect to him? Could they still forget themselves and call him Your Highness? Might they say Sir,

Certainly, he is not withdrawing to suburbia, but to the sovereign's large estate at a monarchical property.

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

This is not his previous residence, where he paid a nominal lease for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit distant, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Pending Matters

Matters remain unresolved. There are still files in the custody of American legislators to be made public.

• Political Pressure: Will legislators request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or investigate the waste of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a criminal probe into his conduct

Perhaps for the present the harm to the monarchy to the monarchy is limited. The narrative from the royal household was evidently that the revocation of honorifics was what the monarch, and especially other senior family members, desired.

Altered Approach

An end to deception that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, notably, the brief announcement showed plainly that the royals were supporting the victim's narrative of events.

Additionally, for the premiere occasion they finally showed concern for the victims: "These actions are judged required, despite the fact that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."

Ultimately it is presumption, self-seeking and inactivity that will destroy the institution. In his stupidity, self-gratification and venality, Andrew seems never to have understood that truth.