Stupidity and Monarchical Hubris Sunk Andrew, and It Might Persist Yet

This episode commenced with a isolated photograph, perhaps the most consequential ever snapped of a individual from the royal household.

Present was the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a female youth, while another individual beamed suggestively in the background.

Lacking that photograph, shot at a gathering in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a adolescent who said she was transported across the ocean and obliged to have perfunctory relations with a prince of the royal bloodline?

An odd, telling action by someone who had overtly stated to have not heard of her, said he could never have had intimate contact with her, and yet handed over a large amount of monarchical resources to avert a protracted lawsuit.

Over a Decade of Scandal

In this context, talk of the royals acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are misguided. This scandal has persisted for the better part of 15 years since that photograph, and another snapshot of Andrew ambling congenially with a convicted sex offender surfaced.

• Hubris: For what duration did his family members, possibly even his parents, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his staff and the police were performing their duties, that he had some deeply disreputable associates 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 taxpayer funds.

Trips were documented in official documents: chopper flights from the estate to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the comfort of "the frequent flyer".

A Life of Privilege

Then there was the arrogance which required deference when he appeared in a space or the supreme obsession about his honorifics used on his correspondence in messages to his personal acquaintances.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who unaccountably pampered him, was still surviving. The Queen did at least strip him of official roles and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his ill-fated and, we now know, mendacious media appearance six years ago.

Recent Developments

Merely in the last two weeks that events sped up, following the release of biographical works giving more grim information of his behavior and that of his companions.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could escape lying about his interaction with a notorious figure.

People (and the media) were far ahead of the monarchy. There was no one of any consequence to support him, a result of all those years of presumption.

Royal Worries

The more astute family members understood that. The key objective is to hand down the monarchy, if not as before at least whole and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the reputation of past sovereigns, demonstrating they are beneficial, dutiful and attentive to their people.

Andrew was putting all that in peril in an era when submission and discretion is no longer sufficient.

Consequences

Finally, the notoriously uncertain king was pressured additional. There was no other option. The institution had lost control of the story.

Presently the loss of titles and the persistent and permanent social disgrace that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Demoted to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The initial member to forfeit his honorifics in modern times
• Military Service: Especially hurtful given his service in the conflict

He is still a counsellor of state, in principle able to stand in for the king, and he is still in the lineage to the crown, but not any of these will actually come to pass.

Future Prospects

Can persons he comes across still acknowledge him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Sir? Will they even say Mr,

Of course, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the sovereign's extensive property at Sandringham.

In that place, he will be supplied by the king with one of the estate properties and given some form of private allowance.

This is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a nominal rent for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit far, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still documents in the custody of American legislators to be disclosed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Will lawmakers demand more
• Monetary Probe: Or investigate the misuse of taxpayer funds
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a criminal probe into his conduct

Possibly for the time being the institutional damage to the institution is restricted. The message from the royal household was plainly that the removal of titles was what the king, and notably other senior family members, sought.

Changed Stance

The cessation of illusion that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the brief announcement showed evidently that the royals were supporting the victim's account of incidents.

Even more, for the first time they eventually showed consideration for the victims: "The censures are judged required, notwithstanding the truth that he continues to deny the allegations against him."

In the end it is entitlement, selfishness and indolence that will destroy the institution. In his stupidity, personal excess and venality, Andrew seems never to have learned that truth.