🔗 Share this article Foolishness and Royal Self-Entitlement Ruined Andrew, and It Could Continue Yet It all began with a isolated photograph, possibly the most significant ever taken of a member of the monarchy. There stood the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a teenage girl, while another individual grinned conspiratorially in the background. Lacking that image, shot at a gathering in 2001, who would have believed the claims of a young woman who declared she was moved across the Atlantic and forced to have perfunctory relations with a prince of the royal family? A strange, telling move by someone who had overtly claimed to have never heard of her, claimed he could not have had sex with her, and yet paid a substantial sum of family resources to settle a protracted lawsuit. A Long Period of Disgrace In this context, talk of the monarchy acting swiftly to distance themselves from Andrew are inaccurate. This controversy has endured for the largest portion of 15 years since that picture, and an additional snapshot of Andrew walking pleasantly with a convicted sex offender surfaced. Self-importance: How long did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his parents, realize that Andrew was so presumptuous? Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his staff and the police were fulfilling their roles, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he openly invited them to palaces. Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the household did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds. Journeys were listed in public records: chopper travel from the royal residence to a golf course and back again in time for dining, exclusive air travel instead of regular transport, all for the benefit of "the travel enthusiast". A Life of Privilege Additionally the arrogance which demanded respect when he entered a area or the extreme consciousness about his designations used on his correspondence in messages to his associates. He avoided accountability while his mother, who unaccountably indulged him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his catastrophic and, as revealed, mendacious television interview six years ago. Recent Developments Merely in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the issuance of biographical works giving more disturbing information of his behavior and that of his companions. Additional revelations have again exposed Andrew's thinking that he could escape lying about his interaction with a disgraced individual. People (and the journalists) were far more perceptive of the royals. There was no one of any importance to defend him, a result of all those years of arrogance. Royal Worries The more intelligent monarchical figures realized that. The primary concern is to transfer the monarchy, if not as before at least whole and unblemished. They have spent the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of past sovereigns, showing they are useful, dutiful and attentive to their citizens. He was placing all that in jeopardy in an era when deference and privacy is no longer sufficient. The Fallout Ultimately, the famously indecisive monarch was pushed further. There was no other option. The royal household had relinquished authority of the account. Presently the stripping of titles and the persistent and life-long personal shame that will pain Andrew the most. Downgrading: Demoted to just a commoner Prior Instance: The first monarch to surrender his designations in recent history Armed Forces: Especially stinging given his role in the engagement He is still a counsellor of state, theoretically able to act for the king, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but neither of these will actually occur. What Lies Ahead Will people he meets still show respect to him? Will they still slip up and call him Sir? Might they say Andrew, Naturally, he is not moving to an ordinary town, but to the sovereign's vast grounds at Sandringham. In that place, he will be provided by the sovereign with one of the royal residences and given some sort of financial support. It is not his former home, where he paid a minimal payment for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit distant, but even so it may not be far enough. Pending Matters The situation continues. There are still documents in the hands of American legislators to be disclosed. Parliamentary Interest: Could parliament seek further action Monetary Probe: Or investigate the waste of public money Criminal Investigation: There may even be a criminal probe into his actions Maybe for the present the institutional damage to the monarchy is limited. The narrative from the palace was evidently that the revocation of honorifics was what the king, and notably other senior family members, desired. A Shift in Position An end to illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, remarkably, the short communication showed clearly that the royals were aligning with the complainant's account of events. Furthermore, for the premiere occasion they finally showed concern for the victims: "The measures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the truth that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him." Ultimately it is arrogance, self-seeking and inactivity that will undermine the monarchy. In his foolishness, self-indulgence and greed, Andrew seems never to have learned that truth.