Folly and Royal Self-Entitlement Sunk Andrew, and It Could Continue Yet

The saga started with a single photograph, arguably the most impactful ever captured of a individual from the royal household.

There stood the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a female youth, while a companion beamed suggestively in the rear.

Without that photograph, shot at a party in 2001, few would have credited the assertions of a teenager who stated she was trafficked across the ocean and obliged to have brief relations with a individual of the monarchy?

A strange, indicative move by someone who had openly asserted to have no heard of her, said he could no have had relations with her, and yet handed over a large amount of family money to resolve a protracted court action.

Over a Decade of Disgrace

In this context, discussions of the monarchy acting decisively to distance themselves from Andrew are inaccurate. This affair has persisted for the largest portion of 15 years since that picture, and another snapshot of Andrew walking amiably with a disgraced financier came to light.

• Hubris: For what duration did his brothers and sisters, perhaps even his relatives, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have known, if his staff and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory associates given he unabashedly hosted them to palaces.
• Monetary Excess: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Trips were listed in royal annual reports: helicopter travel from the palace to a country club and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of regular transport, all for the convenience of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Then there was the arrogance which required subservience when he entered a space or the profound consciousness about his royal titles used on his official documents in communication to his associates.

He could get away with it while his matriarch, who inexplicably pampered him, was still surviving. The sovereign did at least remove him of official roles and military positions in the aftermath of his catastrophic and, we now know, mendacious media appearance six years ago.

Recent Developments

Just in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the issuance of biographical works giving more grim details of his behavior and that of his connections.

Additional revelations have again highlighted Andrew's assumption that he could get away with deceiving about his contact with a convicted criminal.

Society (and the media) were far more perceptive of the monarchy. There was not a single person of any significance to defend him, a outcome of all those years of arrogance.

Monarchical Concerns

The more astute monarchical figures recognized that. The primary concern is to pass on the crown, if not as heretofore at least complete and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to overcome the image of earlier rulers, proving they are beneficial, responsible and responsive to their subjects.

His actions endangered all that in jeopardy in an age when deference and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

Aftermath

Finally, the famously hesitant monarch was pushed more. There was little choice. The institution had surrendered command of the narrative.

Currently the loss of titles and the continued and life-long public humiliation that will afflict Andrew the most.

• Downgrading: Lowered to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Past Example: The initial monarch to surrender his honorifics in contemporary era
• Armed Forces: Notably hurtful given his duty in the conflict

He continues to be a constitutional officer, on paper able to substitute for the king, and he is still in the lineage to the throne, but none of these will ever come to pass.

What Lies Ahead

Will people he meets still acknowledge him? Could they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Might they say Mr,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to suburbia, but to the monarchy's large grounds at Sandringham.

There, he will be provided by the sovereign with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of private allowance.

This differs from his former home, 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 adequate distance.

Pending Matters

The situation continues. There are still files in the hands of overseas authorities to be revealed.

• Political Pressure: Could lawmakers demand more
• Monetary Probe: Or examine the waste of taxpayer funds
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a criminal probe into his behavior

Possibly for the moment the harm to the monarchy to the crown is limited. The statement from the palace was plainly that the removal of titles was what the monarch, and notably other senior royals, sought.

Altered Approach

No more illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, remarkably, the concise statement showed clearly that the royals were siding with the victim's version of incidents.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they finally showed concern for the victims: "These actions are deemed necessary, regardless of the truth that he continues to deny the accusations against him."

Finally it is entitlement, self-interest and inactivity that will destroy the crown. In his foolishness, personal excess and greed, Andrew appears never to have learned that lesson.