🔗 Share this article Stupidity and Royal Self-Entitlement Sunk Andrew, and It Might Persist Yet This episode commenced with a single photograph, arguably the most impactful ever taken of a individual from the royal household. There stood the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a teenage girl, while a companion grinned suggestively in the backdrop. Absent that photograph, shot at a party in 2001, few would have credited the assertions of a adolescent who declared she was transported across the sea and obliged to have cursory intimate contact with a member of the royal family? A strange, telling move by someone who had publicly stated to have never heard of her, claimed he could no have had sex with her, and yet paid a large amount of family funds to resolve a protracted legal case. Over a Decade of Controversy In this context, talk of the royal family acting decisively to distance themselves from Andrew are misguided. This scandal has continued for the largest portion of 15 years since that picture, and another photo of Andrew ambling pleasantly with a disgraced financier surfaced. Arrogance: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, perhaps even his mother and father, know that Andrew was so presumptuous? Questionable Associations: They must have realized, if his aides and the police were performing their duties, that he had some highly questionable associates given he openly hosted them to royal residences. Monetary Excess: If the monarchy did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his extravagance with public money. Journeys were listed in royal annual reports: chopper travel from the palace to a golf course and back again in time for lunch, chartered planes instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "Airmiles Andy". Existence of Entitlement Additionally the arrogance which expected subservience when he walked into a room or the supreme obsession about his royal titles used on his letterheads in communication to his friends. He could get away with it while his parent, who inexplicably indulged him, was still surviving. The sovereign did at least strip him of official roles and ceremonial ranks in the wake of his catastrophic and, it is now clear, untruthful television interview six years ago. Recent Developments It was only in the last fortnight that events accelerated, following the release of books giving more grim information of his conduct and that of his connections. Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's belief that he could escape lying about his contact with a notorious figure. The public (and the media) were far in advance of the royal family. There was no one of any importance to defend him, a consequence of all those years of hubris. Royal Worries The more astute royals understood that. The key objective is to pass on the institution, if not as previously at least whole and unstained. Over time the last 190 years trying to overcome the reputation of previous monarchs, showing they are useful, dutiful and responsive to their people. He was placing all that in peril in an era when submission and secrecy is no longer enough. Aftermath Ultimately, the famously hesitant monarch was prodded more. There was little choice. The palace had lost control of the account. Now it is the removal of honorifics and the ongoing and lifetime public humiliation that will hurt Andrew the most. Downgrading: Lowered to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor Prior Instance: The initial monarch to surrender his titles in recent history Armed Forces: Particularly hurtful given his duty in the Falklands war He is still a constitutional officer, in principle able to substitute for the monarch, and he is still in the lineage to the monarchy, but not any of these will ever occur. Coming Developments Can persons he encounters still defer to him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Will they even say Andrew, Naturally, he is not withdrawing to suburbia, but to the royal family's vast property at a monarchical property. At that location, he will be provided by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some type of financial support. This differs from his former home, where he paid a minimal lease for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit remote, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed. Outstanding Concerns The situation continues. There are still files in the hands of overseas authorities to be made public. Governmental Scrutiny: Might legislators demand more Financial Investigation: Or examine the waste of public money Criminal Investigation: There may even be a criminal probe into his actions Possibly for the time being the institutional damage to the crown is restricted. The narrative from the royal household was clearly that the stripping of titles was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior family members, sought. Changed Stance The cessation of pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, notably, the concise communication showed evidently that the royals were siding with the victim's narrative of incidents. Even more, for the initial instance they ultimately showed regard for the victims: "The measures are judged required, despite the fact that he persists in refuting the allegations against him." Ultimately it is entitlement, self-seeking and indolence that will kill the monarchy. In his folly, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew gives the impression never to have grasped that truth.