Stupidity and Regal Arrogance Damaged Andrew, and It May Not Be Over Yet

It all began with a isolated photograph, arguably the most consequential ever taken of a royal family member.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, with his arm around a young woman, while an associate beamed conspiratorially in the backdrop.

Without that image, captured at a party in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a adolescent who stated she was trafficked across the ocean and compelled to have perfunctory relations with a member of the royal bloodline?

A curious, indicative gesture by someone who had publicly stated to have never been aware of her, asserted he could no have had relations with her, and yet handed over millions of monarchical funds to avert a drawn-out legal case.

A Long Period of Controversy

Against this backdrop, conversations of the royal family acting firmly to distance themselves from Andrew are wide of the mark. This controversy has continued for the better part of 15 years since that photograph, and an additional image of Andrew strolling congenially with a notorious individual came to light.

• Self-importance: To what extent did his family members, possibly even his relatives, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Questionable Associations: They must have understood, if his employees and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he unabashedly welcomed them to royal residences.
• Monetary Excess: If the family did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Trips were documented in royal annual reports: chopper travel from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of scheduled services, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the presumption which required deference when he walked into a space or the extreme consciousness about his royal titles used on his correspondence in messages to his personal acquaintances.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who inexplicably indulged him, was still alive. The monarch did at least strip him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his disastrous and, we now know, deceptive public statement six years ago.

Latest Events

Merely in the last 14 days that events progressed rapidly, following the publication of books giving more troubling information of his actions and that of his associates.

Additional revelations have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could avoid deceiving about his interaction with a disgraced individual.

Society (and the media) were far more perceptive of the royal family. There was no one of any importance to support him, a consequence of all those years of arrogance.

Monarchical Concerns

The more astute family members understood that. The primary concern is to pass on the crown, if not as before at least intact and untarnished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to overcome the legacy of earlier rulers, proving they are useful, responsible and attentive to their people.

His actions endangered all that in jeopardy in an era when submission and discretion is no longer sufficient.

The Fallout

Eventually, the well-known hesitant monarch was pressured more. There was little choice. The institution had relinquished authority of the narrative.

Now it is the removal of designations and the continued and lifetime social disgrace that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Reduction: Demoted to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The initial royal to lose his titles in recent history
• Naval Career: Especially painful given his duty in the engagement

He continues to be a counsellor of state, in principle able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still in the lineage to the throne, but none of these will truly come to pass.

Coming Developments

Do individuals he comes across still show respect to him? Will they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Will they even say Mr,

Certainly, he is not retiring to suburbia, but to the sovereign's extensive grounds at a monarchical property.

At that location, he will be furnished by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some type of personal stipend.

This is not his former home, where he paid a token lease for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit distant, but even so it may not be far enough.

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still documents in the custody of overseas authorities to be revealed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Will lawmakers request additional information
• Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the improper use of state resources
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a criminal probe into his behavior

Perhaps for the moment the harm to the monarchy to the institution is contained. The message from the institution was clearly that the removal of honorifics was what the king, and especially other senior family members, desired.

A Shift in Position

An end to illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, significantly, the short communication showed plainly that the monarchy were aligning with the complainant's narrative of incidents.

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

Ultimately it is entitlement, self-seeking and inactivity that will kill the monarchy. In his foolishness, personal excess and corruption, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that reality.