🔗 Share this article

It all began with a single photograph, perhaps the most significant ever captured of a member of the monarchy.

There stood the Duke of York, arm-in-arm a teenage girl, while another individual beamed knowingly in the backdrop.

Without that snapshot, taken at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a young woman who said she was trafficked across the sea and forced to have perfunctory intimate contact with a prince of the royal bloodline?

An odd, indicative gesture by someone who had openly claimed to have no been aware of her, said he could never have had sex with her, and yet provided a large amount of monarchical money to resolve a protracted court action.

Over a Decade of Scandal

Against this backdrop, discussions of the royal family acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are misguided. This affair has endured for the better part of 15 years since that image, and a further snapshot of Andrew strolling amiably with a notorious individual emerged.

• Self-importance: For what duration did his family members, maybe even his relatives, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Questionable Associations: They must have realized, if his staff and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he unabashedly hosted them to palaces.
• Financial Extravagance: If the family did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Journeys were documented in official documents: helicopter flights from the estate to a golf course and back again in time for dining, exclusive air travel instead of commercial flights, all for the comfort of "the travel enthusiast".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the arrogance which required deference when he entered a room or the profound obsession about his designations used on his official documents in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who inexplicably indulged him, was still living. The monarch did at least revoke him of official roles and military positions in the consequence of his ill-fated and, as revealed, deceptive media appearance six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the publication of books giving more troubling particulars of his conduct and that of his associates.

Further disclosures have again exposed Andrew's thinking that he could avoid deceiving about his contact with a notorious figure.

The public (and the press) were far ahead of the royals. There was no one of any importance to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The more intelligent monarchical figures realized that. The primary concern is to hand down the monarchy, if not as before at least whole and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the reputation of earlier rulers, showing they are useful, accountable and reactive to their subjects.

He was placing all that in danger in an time when deference and discretion is no longer sufficient.

Aftermath

Ultimately, the well-known uncertain king was pushed further. There was no other option. The royal household had relinquished authority of the account.

Currently the stripping of honorifics and the continued and permanent personal shame that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Demoted to just a private citizen
• Historical Precedent: The primary royal to lose his designations in recent history
• Naval Career: Notably hurtful given his role in the Falklands war

He continues to be a constitutional officer, on paper able to act for the king, and he is still in the lineage to the monarchy, but none of these will actually happen.

Coming Developments

Will people he comes across still defer to him? Could they still make mistakes and call him Prince? Would they say Mr,

Naturally, he is not moving to an ordinary town, but to the sovereign's extensive estate at a royal residence.

At that location, he will be furnished by the monarch with one of the grace and favour houses and given some form of private allowance.

It is not his previous residence, where he paid a token lease for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit far, but even so it may not be far enough.

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still records in the possession of overseas authorities to be made public.

• Parliamentary Interest: Will legislators demand more
• Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the improper use of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a criminal probe into his behavior

Possibly for the present the reputational impact to the crown is limited. The narrative from the royal household was clearly that the removal of titles was what the king, and especially other senior monarchical figures, wanted.

Altered Approach

An end to pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, notably, the concise statement showed clearly that the monarchy were aligning with the victim's version of events.

Additionally, for the premiere occasion they eventually showed regard for the survivors: "These actions are judged required, regardless of the fact that he persists in refuting the allegations against him."

Ultimately it is entitlement, selfishness and indolence that will destroy the institution. In his foolishness, self-indulgence and venality, Andrew seems never to have understood that truth.