🔗 Share this article Stupidity and Monarchical Hubris Damaged Andrew, and It Might Persist Yet It all began with a solitary photograph, perhaps the most consequential ever taken of a royal family member. There stood the Duke of York, standing closely beside a female youth, while an associate grinned conspiratorially in the backdrop. Lacking that image, shot at a social event in 2001, few would have credited the claims of a teenager who said she was moved across the ocean and compelled to have perfunctory intimate contact with a individual of the royal bloodline? A curious, revealing gesture by someone who had overtly stated to have never heard of her, claimed he could not have had relations with her, and yet handed over millions of family funds to avert a drawn-out court action. A Long Period of Controversy Against this backdrop, discussions of the royal family acting swiftly to distance themselves from Andrew are inaccurate. This controversy has continued for the better part of 15 years since that image, and another image of Andrew ambling congenially with a convicted sex offender surfaced. Hubris: For what duration did his siblings, maybe even his relatives, realize that Andrew was so arrogant? Questionable Associations: They must have understood, if his staff and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he openly invited them to royal residences. Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with taxpayer funds. Journeys were printed in official documents: chopper flights from the palace to a sporting venue and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of commercial flights, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy". World of Deference Additionally the arrogance which demanded subservience when he appeared in a space or the extreme obsession about his royal titles used on his official documents in communication to his associates. He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still living. The monarch did at least remove him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the consequence of his ill-fated and, as revealed, untruthful public statement six years ago. Current Situation Merely in the last 14 days that events progressed rapidly, following the release of accounts giving more grim particulars of his behavior and that of his associates. Additional revelations have again exposed Andrew's thinking that he could get away with deceiving about his interaction with a convicted criminal. Society (and the journalists) were far in advance of the royals. There was no one of any importance to speak up for him, a result of all those years of arrogance. Institutional Fears The more intelligent monarchical figures recognized that. The one imperative is to pass on the crown, if not as previously at least whole and unblemished. They have spent the last 190 years trying to reverse the image of earlier rulers, showing they are beneficial, dutiful and reactive to their people. His actions endangered all that in danger in an time when submission and discretion is no longer sufficient. Consequences Ultimately, the well-known uncertain sovereign was pushed further. There was no alternative. The royal household had lost control of the story. Currently the stripping of titles and the ongoing and lifetime public humiliation that will hurt Andrew most deeply. Reduction: Demoted to just a private citizen Prior Instance: The initial monarch to lose his designations in contemporary era Naval Career: Especially stinging given his service in the engagement He continues to be a royal advisor, on paper able to substitute for the king, and he is still eighth in line to the crown, but not any of these will truly come to pass. Coming Developments Will people he encounters still defer to him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Sir? Would they say Mr, Of course, he is not retiring to suburbia, but to the monarchy's extensive grounds at a monarchical property. At that location, he will be supplied by the monarch with one of the estate properties and given some form of personal stipend. This differs from his previous residence, where he paid a nominal lease for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit remote, but even so it may not be far enough. Pending Matters Matters remain unresolved. There are still files in the possession of US Congress to be made public. Political Pressure: Could legislators request additional information Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the improper use of taxpayer funds Criminal Investigation: There may even be a police investigation into his behavior Maybe for the time being the institutional damage to the monarchy is restricted. The message from the palace was evidently that the removal of honorifics was what the monarch, and notably other senior royals, sought. Changed Stance An end to pretence that Andrew was acting willingly. And, notably, the short communication showed plainly that the monarchy were siding with the complainant's narrative of occurrences. Even more, for the premiere occasion they eventually showed consideration for the victims: "The measures are considered essential, notwithstanding the reality that he continues to deny the claims against him." Finally it is arrogance, selfishness and indolence that will undermine the monarchy. In his stupidity, self-gratification and greed, Andrew seems never to have grasped that reality.