🔗 Share this article

This episode commenced with a isolated photograph, perhaps the most significant ever captured of a royal family member.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, standing closely beside a teenage girl, while another individual smiled conspiratorially in the backdrop.

Absent that image, captured at a gathering in 2001, who would have believed the claims of a teenager who declared she was moved across the Atlantic and obliged to have cursory sexual encounters with a individual of the monarchy?

An odd, revealing move by someone who had overtly asserted to have never heard of her, said he could not have had relations with her, and yet paid a substantial sum of family money to settle a long-delayed lawsuit.

Years of Disgrace

Against this backdrop, discussions of the royals acting decisively to cut Andrew off are misguided. This controversy has endured for the majority of 15 years since that photograph, and an additional image of Andrew walking pleasantly with a notorious individual came to light.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his siblings, maybe even his relatives, know that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his staff and the law enforcement were performing their duties, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he openly invited them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the household did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with public money.

Journeys were documented in official documents: helicopter transfers from the royal residence to a golf course and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of commercial flights, all for the comfort of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Additionally the presumption which demanded subservience when he entered a area or the profound awareness about his royal titles used on his correspondence in letters to his personal acquaintances.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who strangely pampered him, was still living. The Queen did at least strip him of public duties and honorary colonelcies in the consequence of his catastrophic and, as revealed, mendacious media appearance six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last 14 days that events progressed rapidly, following the release of accounts giving more disturbing information of his behavior and that of his companions.

More information have again revealed Andrew's assumption that he could escape being untruthful about his contact with a convicted criminal.

The public (and the press) were far in advance of the monarchy. There was nobody of any significance to support him, a result of all those years of hubris.

Royal Worries

The more astute monarchical figures realized that. The one imperative is to pass on the monarchy, if not as previously at least whole and unblemished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of previous monarchs, demonstrating they are beneficial, dutiful and attentive to their people.

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

The Fallout

Finally, the notoriously uncertain monarch was pressured more. There was little choice. The palace had relinquished authority of the story.

Now it is the removal of designations and the ongoing and life-long personal shame that will afflict Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Demoted to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The initial monarch to forfeit his honorifics in recent history
• Military Service: Notably hurtful given his service in the Falklands war

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

Future Prospects

Do individuals he comes across still show respect to him? Might they still slip up and call him Sir? Would they say Sir,

Of course, he is not moving to suburbia, but to the royal family's large estate at a royal residence.

There, he will be furnished by the king with one of the estate properties and given some form of financial support.

This differs from his prior accommodation, where he paid a nominal lease for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit remote, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Pending Matters

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

• Governmental Scrutiny: Will legislators request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or examine the waste of public money
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Maybe for the time being the institutional damage to the monarchy is restricted. The message from the royal household was clearly that the removal of titles was what the sovereign, and especially other senior royals, wanted.

Altered Approach

No more deception that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the short communication showed evidently that the royals were aligning with the accuser's narrative of occurrences.

Furthermore, for the premiere occasion they ultimately showed concern for the affected individuals: "These actions are considered essential, despite the fact that he continues to deny the claims against him."

Finally it is presumption, selfishness and inactivity that will destroy the monarchy. In his stupidity, self-gratification and venality, Andrew appears never to have understood that reality.