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

It all began with a single photograph, arguably the most consequential ever taken of a individual from the royal household.

There stood the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a young woman, while another individual smiled conspiratorially in the backdrop.

Lacking that photograph, taken at a social event in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the allegations of a teenager who declared she was transported across the sea and compelled to have brief sexual encounters with a member of the royal bloodline?

A strange, telling gesture by someone who had overtly stated to have no been aware of her, asserted he could not have had intimate contact with her, and yet handed over millions of monarchical funds to resolve a long-delayed lawsuit.

Years of Disgrace

Considering this, discussions of the royal family acting firmly to distance themselves from Andrew are inaccurate. This scandal has continued for the majority of 15 years since that photograph, and a further photo of Andrew walking amiably with a notorious individual surfaced.

• Hubris: How long did his siblings, possibly even his parents, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Questionable Associations: They must have understood, if his employees and the law enforcement were fulfilling their roles, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he openly hosted them to estates.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the family did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with taxpayer funds.

Travel were listed in public records: chopper flights from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "the travel enthusiast".

A Life of Privilege

Furthermore the arrogance which expected deference when he entered a space or the supreme obsession about his designations used on his letterheads in letters to his personal acquaintances.

He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still surviving. The sovereign did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the aftermath of his disastrous and, as revealed, deceptive television interview six years ago.

Latest Events

It was only in the last two weeks that events sped up, following the issuance of biographical works giving more disturbing information of his behavior and that of his companions.

Additional revelations have again highlighted Andrew's assumption that he could get away with deceiving about his contact with a convicted criminal.

The public (and the journalists) were far in advance of the royals. There was no one of any consequence to support him, a result of all those years of hubris.

Institutional Fears

The more intelligent royals recognized that. The one imperative is to hand down the institution, if not as before at least complete and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the image of past sovereigns, proving they are useful, accountable and attentive to their subjects.

He was placing all that in danger in an age when submission and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

The Fallout

Eventually, the notoriously uncertain sovereign was pushed further. There was no other option. The royal household had surrendered command of the account.

Currently the loss of honorifics and the continued and permanent personal shame that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Reduction: Lowered to just a commoner
• Past Example: The initial monarch to lose his designations in modern times
• Naval Career: Notably painful given his role in the Falklands war

He is still a constitutional officer, in principle able to substitute for the sovereign, and he is still in the succession to the throne, but none of these will ever come to pass.

Future Prospects

Will people he meets still acknowledge him? Could they still forget themselves and call him Prince? Would they say Andrew,

Certainly, he is not retiring to suburbia, but to the monarchy's extensive property at Sandringham.

In that place, he will be supplied 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 nominal payment for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit distant, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still files in the hands of American legislators to be disclosed.

• Political Pressure: Will lawmakers seek further action
• Fiscal Review: Or scrutinize the misuse of public money
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his actions

Maybe for the present the reputational impact to the crown is limited. The message from the institution was clearly that the stripping of designations was what the sovereign, and especially other senior royals, desired.

A Shift in Position

An end to pretence that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, remarkably, the brief announcement showed clearly that the institution were aligning with the accuser's version of occurrences.

Furthermore, for the premiere occasion they finally showed consideration for the victims: "The measures are judged required, despite the fact that he maintains his innocence of the allegations against him."

Ultimately it is arrogance, self-seeking and inactivity that will destroy the institution. In his stupidity, self-indulgence and corruption, Andrew appears never to have grasped that lesson.