The saga started with a solitary photograph, possibly the most consequential ever captured of a member of the monarchy.
In the frame appeared the Baron Killyleagh, arm-in-arm a young woman, while an associate beamed conspiratorially in the backdrop.
Without that image, taken at a party in 2001, who would have believed the claims of a adolescent who stated she was transported across the sea and obliged to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a individual of the monarchy?
A strange, indicative move by someone who had publicly stated to have no known about her, claimed he could not have had relations with her, and yet provided a large amount of his mother's money to resolve a protracted court action.
A Long Period of Scandal
In this context, discussions of the royals acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are misguided. This affair has continued for the largest portion of 15 years since that picture, and a further image of Andrew strolling congenially with a disgraced financier came to light.
- Arrogance: How long did his family members, possibly even his parents, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
- Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his employees and the police were fulfilling their roles, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he openly hosted them to royal residences.
- Financial Extravagance: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with public money.
Trips were documented in royal annual reports: chopper travel from the estate to a country club and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of commercial flights, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".
A Life of Privilege
Additionally the arrogance which demanded deference when he walked into a space or the extreme awareness about his honorifics used on his letterheads in messages to his personal acquaintances.
He could get away with it while his parent, who inexplicably pampered him, was still living. The Queen did at least revoke him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his disastrous and, we now know, deceptive television interview six years ago.
Current Situation
Merely in the last fortnight that events sped up, following the release of biographical works giving more troubling information of his actions and that of his associates.
Additional revelations have again revealed Andrew's belief that he could escape lying about his interaction with a disgraced individual.
The public (and the press) were far more perceptive of the royals. There was nobody of any consequence to support him, a result of all those years of presumption.
Institutional Fears
The more astute royals understood that. The primary concern is to hand down the crown, if not as previously at least whole and unblemished.
They have spent the last 190 years trying to undo the image of past sovereigns, demonstrating they are useful, responsible and attentive to their subjects.
His actions endangered all that in jeopardy in an era when submission and secrecy is no longer adequate.
Aftermath
Eventually, the well-known indecisive king was pushed additional. There was little choice. The royal household had relinquished authority of the account.
Presently the removal of honorifics and the continued and life-long personal shame that will afflict Andrew most severely.
- Reduction: Reduced to just a commoner
- Prior Instance: The initial royal to forfeit his honorifics in contemporary era
- Naval Career: Especially painful given his service in the engagement
He remains a counsellor of state, theoretically able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the monarchy, but none of these will ever come to pass.
Coming Developments
Will people he meets still defer to him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Sir? Might they say Andrew,
Certainly, he is not moving to a common area, but to the monarchy's extensive grounds at Sandringham.
In that place, he will be furnished by the monarch with one of the grace and favour houses and given some form of financial support.
This is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a nominal payment for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit remote, but even so it may not be adequate distance.
Unresolved Issues
This is not over. There are still files in the possession of American legislators to be revealed.
- Governmental Scrutiny: Might lawmakers seek further action
- Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the improper use of state resources
- Judicial Potential: There may even be a criminal probe into his behavior
Perhaps for the time being the harm to the monarchy to the crown is restricted. The statement from the institution was evidently that the revocation of titles was what the sovereign, and notably other senior royals, sought.
Changed Stance
No more deception that Andrew was acting willingly. And, significantly, the concise statement showed clearly that the royals were siding with the accuser's narrative of events.
Furthermore, for the first time they ultimately showed regard for the victims: "The censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the reality that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."
Ultimately it is arrogance, self-seeking and indolence that will undermine the institution. In his stupidity, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew seems never to have grasped that reality.
