🔗 Share this article Folly and Royal Self-Entitlement Ruined Andrew, and It May Not Be Over Yet This episode commenced with a single photograph, arguably the most significant ever captured of a royal family member. In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, with his arm around a teenage girl, while an associate grinned knowingly in the rear. Absent that photograph, taken at a party in 2001, few would have credited the assertions of a teenager who said she was transported across the Atlantic and compelled to have brief relations with a member of the monarchy? A curious, revealing action by someone who had openly claimed to have no heard of her, claimed he could no have had relations with her, and yet provided a substantial sum of family funds to avert a drawn-out lawsuit. A Long Period of Disgrace In this context, discussions of the monarchy acting decisively to distance themselves from Andrew are wide of the mark. This affair has endured for the better part of 15 years since that image, and an additional image of Andrew walking amiably with a convicted sex offender came to light. Arrogance: How long did his family members, maybe even his parents, know that Andrew was so presumptuous? Questionable Associations: They must have known, if his employees and the police were performing their duties, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he openly invited them to estates. Financial Extravagance: If the household did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with public money. Journeys were listed in official documents: private aircraft transfers from the palace to a country club and back again in time for dining, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the comfort of "the frequent flyer". A Life of Privilege Furthermore the presumption which demanded deference when he entered a space or the profound consciousness about his honorifics used on his letterheads in communication to his friends. He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who inexplicably indulged him, was still living. The sovereign did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his catastrophic and, as revealed, untruthful television interview six years ago. Latest Events Just in the last fortnight that events accelerated, following the publication of books giving more disturbing particulars of his behavior and that of his associates. More information have again revealed Andrew's assumption that he could avoid deceiving about his interaction with a disgraced individual. The public (and the press) were far more perceptive of the royals. There was nobody of any significance to defend him, a outcome of all those years of presumption. Royal Worries The more astute royals understood that. The primary concern is to hand down the crown, if not as heretofore at least intact and unstained. For generations the last 190 years trying to overcome the reputation of past sovereigns, showing they are useful, dutiful and attentive to their subjects. He was placing all that in danger in an age when submission and discretion is no longer adequate. Aftermath Ultimately, the famously uncertain sovereign was pressured additional. There was no alternative. The institution had relinquished authority of the account. Presently the loss of titles and the persistent and lifetime social disgrace that will afflict Andrew most severely. Reduction: Reduced to just a commoner Prior Instance: The initial monarch to lose his designations in recent history Armed Forces: Notably painful given his service in the engagement He remains a constitutional officer, theoretically able to act for the king, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but none of these will truly come to pass. What Lies Ahead Can persons he meets still show respect to him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Your Highness? Would they say Mr, Of course, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the monarchy's large property at a royal residence. There, he will be furnished by the monarch with one of the estate properties and given some type of personal stipend. This is not his former home, where he paid a token lease for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit far, but even so it may not be far enough. Pending Matters Matters remain unresolved. There are still documents in the custody of American legislators to be made public. Political Pressure: Could legislators request additional information Financial Investigation: Or investigate the waste of state resources Criminal Investigation: There may even be a criminal probe into his conduct Possibly for the time being the reputational impact to the monarchy is limited. The narrative from the institution was evidently that the removal of titles was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior monarchical figures, desired. Changed Stance An end to pretence that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, significantly, the brief statement showed plainly that the monarchy were aligning with the complainant's narrative of occurrences. Even more, for the initial instance they ultimately showed regard for the survivors: "The censures are judged required, regardless of the fact that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him." Finally it is arrogance, self-interest and indolence that will destroy the institution. In his stupidity, self-indulgence and venality, Andrew seems never to have learned that reality.