🔗 Share this article Stupidity and Royal Self-Entitlement Damaged Andrew, and It Could Continue Yet This episode commenced with a single photograph, possibly the most significant ever snapped of a individual from the royal household. Present was the Baron Killyleagh, with his arm around a female youth, while an associate smiled suggestively in the rear. Without that image, taken at a party in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a teenager who declared she was transported across the Atlantic and forced to have cursory sexual encounters with a member of the monarchy? An odd, telling gesture by someone who had overtly stated to have no been aware of her, said he could not have had relations with her, and yet paid a large amount of his mother's funds to settle a drawn-out legal case. Years of Controversy In this context, discussions of the royals acting decisively to distance themselves from Andrew are wide of the mark. This scandal has continued for the better part of 15 years since that photograph, and a further photo of Andrew ambling congenially with a convicted sex offender surfaced. Self-importance: How long did his brothers and sisters, maybe even his mother and father, realize that Andrew was so arrogant? Dubious Friendships: They must have known, if his aides and the law enforcement were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he openly invited them to estates. Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the household did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with taxpayer funds. Trips were printed in public records: helicopter travel from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of regular transport, all for the convenience of "the travel enthusiast". Existence of Entitlement Additionally the presumption which expected subservience when he appeared in a area or the extreme consciousness about his royal titles used on his letterheads in messages to his personal acquaintances. He avoided accountability while his matriarch, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least revoke him of public duties and honorary colonelcies in the wake of his catastrophic and, we now know, mendacious public statement six years ago. Current Situation Just in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the issuance of biographical works giving more grim details of his behavior and that of his associates. Further disclosures have again exposed Andrew's assumption that he could avoid deceiving about his interaction with a convicted criminal. Society (and the media) were far more perceptive of the monarchy. There was no one of any importance to defend him, a consequence of all those years of presumption. Institutional Fears The more astute monarchical figures realized that. The key objective is to transfer the monarchy, if not as previously at least complete and unblemished. Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the image of previous monarchs, showing they are valuable, accountable and attentive to their citizens. His actions endangered all that in jeopardy in an age when respect and privacy is no longer adequate. Consequences Ultimately, the well-known indecisive king was prodded additional. There was no alternative. The institution had surrendered command of the account. Currently the removal of honorifics and the ongoing and life-long public humiliation that will hurt Andrew the most. Downgrading: Lowered to just a commoner Historical Precedent: The initial royal to forfeit his honorifics in modern times Military Service: Particularly painful given his duty in the conflict He remains a constitutional officer, on paper able to substitute for the king, and he is still in the lineage to the monarchy, but neither of these will actually happen. Future Prospects Can persons he encounters still show respect to him? Could they still make mistakes and call him Sir? Would they say Andrew, Certainly, he is not retiring to suburbia, but to the monarchy's vast property at a royal residence. There, he will be supplied by the king with one of the estate properties and given some form of private allowance. This is not his former home, 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 far enough. Unresolved Issues The situation continues. There are still records in the hands of overseas authorities to be made public. Parliamentary Interest: Might parliament demand more Fiscal Review: Or scrutinize the misuse of taxpayer funds Legal Possibility: There may even be a criminal probe into his actions Maybe for the present the institutional damage to the crown is restricted. The message from the royal household was evidently that the revocation of titles was what the king, and especially other senior monarchical figures, desired. A Shift in Position The cessation of illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, remarkably, the concise announcement showed evidently that the institution were supporting the complainant's version of incidents. Additionally, for the first time they eventually showed regard for the affected individuals: "The measures are deemed necessary, despite the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him." Finally it is presumption, self-interest and laziness that will undermine the crown. In his folly, personal excess and venality, Andrew seems never to have understood that truth.