🔗 Share this article Folly and Royal Self-Entitlement Damaged Andrew, and It May Not Be Over Yet This episode commenced with a isolated photograph, possibly the most significant ever captured of a individual from the royal household. In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, with his arm around a female youth, while a companion grinned knowingly in the backdrop. Without that image, shot at a gathering in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a young woman who said she was transported across the sea and forced to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a prince of the royal family? A curious, revealing move by someone who had overtly stated to have never known about her, asserted he could not have had intimate contact with her, and yet provided a large amount of family money to settle a long-delayed legal case. A Long Period of Scandal Against this backdrop, conversations of the royal family acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This scandal has endured for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and an additional snapshot of Andrew strolling amiably with a disgraced financier came to light. Self-importance: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, perhaps even his mother and father, know that Andrew was so arrogant? Problematic Connections: They must have known, if his employees and the police were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he openly hosted them to estates. Monetary Excess: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with taxpayer funds. Journeys were printed in royal annual reports: helicopter transfers from the estate to a country club and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the comfort of "the frequent flyer". World of Deference Furthermore the arrogance which required respect when he walked into a area or the extreme obsession about his royal titles used on his official documents in communication to his friends. He could get away with it while his mother, who strangely spoiled him, was still living. The monarch did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his catastrophic and, it is now clear, untruthful public statement six years ago. Recent Developments Just in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the issuance of accounts giving more disturbing information of his behavior and that of his associates. Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's belief that he could escape deceiving about his relationship with a convicted criminal. People (and the press) were far more perceptive of the royals. There was no one of any significance to defend him, a outcome of all those years of arrogance. Institutional Fears The wiser royals recognized that. The key objective is to hand down the monarchy, if not as before at least whole and unblemished. Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the image of previous monarchs, proving they are useful, accountable and attentive to their people. Andrew was putting all that in danger in an time when deference and privacy is no longer enough. Consequences Finally, the well-known hesitant king was prodded further. There was little choice. The palace had surrendered command of the account. Currently the removal of titles and the persistent and lifetime personal shame that will afflict Andrew most severely. Downgrading: Demoted to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor Past Example: The initial member to surrender his designations in modern times Military Service: Notably stinging given his role in the engagement He is still a counsellor of state, theoretically able to stand in for the sovereign, and he is still in the lineage to the crown, but not any of these will truly come to pass. What Lies Ahead Will people he meets still acknowledge him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Your Highness? Will they even say Andrew, Naturally, he is not retiring to suburbia, but to the sovereign's large grounds at Sandringham. In that place, he will be furnished by the sovereign with one of the royal residences and given some form of private allowance. This differs from his prior accommodation, where he paid a nominal lease for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit remote, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed. Outstanding Concerns Matters remain unresolved. There are still documents in the custody of US Congress to be revealed. Governmental Scrutiny: Might lawmakers demand more Monetary Probe: Or investigate the waste of state resources Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his actions Maybe for the present the harm to the monarchy to the institution is limited. The message from the institution was clearly that the stripping of designations was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior family members, wanted. A Shift in Position The cessation of pretence that Andrew was acting willingly. And, remarkably, the short statement showed clearly that the institution were aligning with the complainant's version of incidents. Even more, for the first time they ultimately showed concern for the victims: "These actions are considered essential, notwithstanding the truth that he maintains his innocence of the allegations against him." Ultimately it is entitlement, selfishness and indolence that will kill the institution. In his stupidity, personal excess and greed, Andrew appears never to have understood that reality.