🔗 Share this article

It all began with a solitary photograph, possibly the most consequential ever captured of a member of the monarchy.

There stood the Baron Killyleagh, arm-in-arm a female youth, while another individual beamed knowingly in the rear.

Without that snapshot, captured at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the allegations of a young woman who said she was moved across the sea and obliged to have perfunctory intimate contact with a member of the royal bloodline?

A curious, indicative gesture by someone who had publicly asserted to have never known about her, claimed he could not have had intimate contact with her, and yet handed over a large amount of family money to settle a protracted lawsuit.

A Long Period of Disgrace

In this context, talk of the royals acting swiftly to cut Andrew off are wide of the mark. This scandal has continued for the majority of 15 years since that picture, and an additional photo of Andrew ambling amiably with a convicted sex offender emerged.

• Hubris: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his parents, realize that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his staff and the law enforcement were performing their duties, that he had some deeply disreputable friends given he publicly invited them to royal residences.
• Financial Extravagance: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with state resources.

Journeys were listed in public records: private aircraft travel from the palace to a country club and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the comfort of "the travel enthusiast".

World of Deference

Additionally the arrogance which expected deference when he entered a area or the extreme consciousness about his royal titles used on his correspondence in communication to his associates.

He could get away with it while his parent, who inexplicably spoiled him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least revoke him of public duties and military positions in the aftermath of his disastrous and, as revealed, mendacious television interview six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the release of biographical works giving more troubling information of his conduct and that of his connections.

Additional revelations have again revealed Andrew's thinking that he could avoid lying about his contact with a disgraced individual.

People (and the media) were far in advance of the royals. There was no one of any consequence to defend him, a consequence of all those years of hubris.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser family members realized that. The primary concern is to transfer the institution, if not as previously at least intact and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the legacy of past sovereigns, demonstrating they are useful, dutiful and responsive to their citizens.

He was placing all that in peril in an age when deference and privacy is no longer sufficient.

The Fallout

Ultimately, the well-known uncertain monarch was pressured more. There was no other option. The palace had relinquished authority of the story.

Currently the loss of designations and the persistent and lifetime social disgrace that will hurt Andrew the most.

• Demotion: Lowered to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The first royal to lose his honorifics in modern times
• Naval Career: Notably stinging given his service in the conflict

He remains a constitutional officer, in principle able to substitute for the monarch, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but neither of these will truly occur.

Future Prospects

Can persons he encounters still defer to him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Your Highness? Will they even say Mr,

Of course, he is not retiring to an ordinary town, but to the monarchy's extensive property at Sandringham.

In that place, he will be furnished by the sovereign with one of the royal residences and given some form of personal stipend.

This is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a nominal lease for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit far, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Pending Matters

The situation continues. There are still documents in the custody of American legislators to be revealed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Will legislators demand more
• Financial Investigation: Or examine the misuse of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a police investigation into his conduct

Possibly for the moment the harm to the monarchy to the institution is limited. The message from the palace was evidently that the stripping of titles was what the monarch, and notably other senior royals, sought.

A Shift in Position

No more pretence that Andrew was acting willingly. And, notably, the brief announcement showed clearly that the royals were aligning with the victim's narrative of occurrences.

Even more, for the initial instance they finally showed regard for the victims: "The measures are judged required, regardless of the truth that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

In the end it is entitlement, self-seeking and inactivity that will kill the institution. In his foolishness, self-gratification and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that reality.