🔗 Share this article Stupidity and Monarchical Hubris Ruined Andrew, and It Might Persist Yet It all began with a isolated photograph, perhaps the most significant ever captured of a individual from the royal household. Present was the Baron Killyleagh, arm-in-arm a female youth, while another individual grinned conspiratorially in the backdrop. Lacking that snapshot, taken at a party in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a young woman who declared she was trafficked across the ocean and obliged to have brief relations with a individual of the monarchy? An odd, indicative move by someone who had openly stated to have never known about her, asserted he could no have had sex with her, and yet provided a substantial sum of family funds to resolve a protracted court action. A Long Period of Scandal Considering this, talk of the monarchy acting swiftly to sever ties with Andrew are misguided. This affair has continued for the better part of 15 years since that image, and another snapshot of Andrew strolling pleasantly with a disgraced financier came to light. Self-importance: To what extent did his family members, perhaps even his relatives, know that Andrew was so arrogant? Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his staff and the police were fulfilling their roles, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he unabashedly invited them to estates. Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the household did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with public money. Trips were printed in public records: private aircraft transfers from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, private flights instead of regular transport, all for the comfort of "the travel enthusiast". Existence of Entitlement Then there was the presumption which demanded deference when he entered a space or the profound awareness about his royal titles used on his correspondence in letters to his friends. He avoided accountability while his mother, who inexplicably pampered him, was still living. The Queen did at least remove him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the wake of his catastrophic and, as revealed, mendacious media appearance six years ago. Latest Events It was only in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the issuance of books giving more disturbing particulars of his actions and that of his companions. More information have again revealed Andrew's thinking that he could avoid deceiving about his relationship with a convicted criminal. The public (and the press) were far ahead of the monarchy. There was no one of any consequence to speak up for him, a outcome of all those years of hubris. Monarchical Concerns The more astute monarchical figures recognized that. The one imperative is to pass on the monarchy, if not as heretofore at least complete and unstained. For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the image of earlier rulers, showing they are useful, responsible and responsive to their subjects. He was placing all that in peril in an era when submission and privacy is no longer sufficient. Aftermath Finally, the notoriously indecisive king was prodded more. There was no other option. The royal household had lost control of the story. Now it is the loss of honorifics and the ongoing and permanent social disgrace that will hurt Andrew most severely. Demotion: Lowered to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor Historical Precedent: The first monarch to forfeit his titles in modern times Armed Forces: Especially painful given his duty in the Falklands war He remains a counsellor of state, on paper able to stand in for the king, and he is still eighth in line to the crown, but none of these will ever occur. What Lies Ahead Do individuals he comes across still show respect to him? Will they still make mistakes and call him Sir? Would they say Mr, Certainly, he is not moving to a common area, but to the monarchy's vast estate at a royal residence. At that location, he will be provided by the king with one of the estate properties and given some type of personal stipend. This is not his former home, where he paid a token rent for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit distant, but even so it may not be far enough. Pending Matters The situation continues. There are still documents in the possession of overseas authorities to be disclosed. Political Pressure: Will lawmakers demand more Fiscal Review: Or investigate the improper use of public money Criminal Investigation: There may even be a criminal probe into his conduct Possibly for the time being the reputational impact to the monarchy is restricted. The narrative from the royal household was clearly that the removal of honorifics was what the sovereign, and notably other senior monarchical figures, wanted. Changed Stance No more illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, significantly, the short communication showed evidently that the monarchy were aligning with the complainant's narrative of incidents. Additionally, for the first time they eventually showed consideration for the affected individuals: "The measures are judged required, regardless of the truth that he maintains his innocence of the allegations against him." Finally it is arrogance, self-seeking and inactivity that will kill the monarchy. In his folly, personal excess and venality, Andrew seems never to have understood that lesson.