🔗 Share this article

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

Present was the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a female youth, while another individual smiled knowingly in the background.

Without that snapshot, taken at a party in 2001, few would have credited the assertions of a young woman who declared she was trafficked across the ocean and obliged to have cursory intimate contact with a individual of the monarchy?

A curious, revealing move by someone who had publicly stated to have never been aware of her, claimed he could not have had relations with her, and yet handed over millions of family funds to resolve a protracted legal case.

Over a Decade of Scandal

In this context, conversations of the royals acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are misguided. This scandal has continued for the better part of 15 years since that picture, and an additional photo of Andrew strolling congenially with a notorious individual emerged.

• Arrogance: How long did his siblings, perhaps even his parents, understand that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his aides and the law enforcement were fulfilling their roles, that he had some highly questionable companions given he openly welcomed them to estates.
• Monetary Excess: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Travel were listed in royal annual reports: private aircraft transfers from the royal residence to a golf course and back again in time for midday meal, private flights instead of commercial flights, all for the comfort of "Airmiles Andy".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the arrogance which required respect when he appeared in a area or the extreme awareness about his designations used on his official documents in messages to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who strangely indulged him, was still alive. The Queen did at least revoke him of public duties and honorary colonelcies in the aftermath of his ill-fated and, it is now clear, mendacious public statement six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the publication of books giving more troubling information of his actions and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's belief that he could avoid being untruthful about his interaction with a convicted criminal.

Society (and the press) were far more perceptive of the royals. There was not a single person of any consequence to defend him, a result of all those years of arrogance.

Monarchical Concerns

The more astute family members understood that. The key objective is to hand down the monarchy, if not as previously at least intact and unblemished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the image of previous monarchs, proving they are beneficial, accountable and reactive to their citizens.

Andrew was putting all that in jeopardy in an age when respect and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

Consequences

Finally, the well-known hesitant king was prodded further. There was little choice. The royal household had relinquished authority of the story.

Presently the removal of designations and the persistent and life-long public humiliation that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Demotion: Lowered to just a commoner
• Prior Instance: The initial royal to forfeit his titles in modern times
• Armed Forces: Especially painful given his duty in the conflict

He continues to be a counsellor of state, theoretically able to substitute for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the throne, but neither of these will truly happen.

Coming Developments

Can persons he encounters still defer to him? Will they still slip up and call him Prince? Will they even say Sir,

Certainly, he is not retiring to an ordinary town, but to the sovereign's large grounds at a monarchical property.

At that location, he will be provided by the monarch with one of the grace and favour houses and given some type of financial support.

This differs from his previous residence, where he paid a nominal rent for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit remote, but even so it may not be far enough.

Outstanding Concerns

Matters remain unresolved. There are still files in the possession of American legislators to be made public.

• Political Pressure: Will parliament seek further action
• Financial Investigation: Or examine the misuse of taxpayer funds
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his actions

Perhaps for the moment the reputational impact to the monarchy is restricted. The statement from the palace was evidently that the removal of designations was what the monarch, and particularly other senior monarchical figures, desired.

Changed Stance

No more illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the concise announcement showed evidently that the monarchy were siding with the accuser's account of occurrences.

Furthermore, for the initial instance they ultimately showed regard for the affected individuals: "The measures are judged required, notwithstanding the truth that he persists in refuting the accusations against him."

Finally it is presumption, self-seeking and laziness that will destroy the monarchy. In his stupidity, self-indulgence and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have learned that lesson.