🔗 Share this article

The saga started with a solitary photograph, arguably the most significant ever taken of a individual from the royal household.

Present was the Baron Killyleagh, standing closely beside a young woman, while another individual beamed conspiratorially in the background.

Without that photograph, taken at a gathering in 2001, few would have credited the assertions of a young woman who stated she was trafficked across the sea and compelled to have perfunctory intimate contact with a member of the royal family?

An odd, indicative gesture by someone who had overtly stated to have no heard of her, claimed he could not have had intimate contact with her, and yet handed over a large amount of family funds to avert a protracted lawsuit.

Years of Controversy

In this context, talk of the royal family acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This affair has persisted for the largest portion of 15 years since that picture, and another image of Andrew ambling amiably with a disgraced financier surfaced.

• Self-importance: To what extent did his family members, perhaps even his parents, understand that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Problematic Connections: They must have understood, if his staff and the law enforcement were doing their jobs, that he had some highly questionable companions given he publicly invited them to palaces.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the family did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Journeys were documented in public records: helicopter transfers from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for lunch, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the benefit of "Airmiles Andy".

Existence of Entitlement

Additionally the arrogance which demanded respect when he walked into a room or the extreme awareness about his royal titles used on his official documents in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who inexplicably pampered him, was still living. The Queen did at least revoke him of official roles and military positions in the consequence of his ill-fated and, it is now clear, mendacious television interview six years ago.

Latest Events

It was only in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the publication of books giving more troubling information of his behavior and that of his associates.

Additional revelations have again exposed Andrew's assumption that he could avoid being untruthful about his contact with a convicted criminal.

Society (and the press) were far more perceptive of the royal family. There was no one of any consequence to support him, a consequence of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser family members realized that. The key objective is to transfer the institution, if not as previously at least whole and unstained.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to overcome the legacy of previous monarchs, showing they are valuable, accountable and responsive to their people.

Andrew was putting all that in danger in an age when submission and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

Aftermath

Finally, the well-known uncertain sovereign was prodded further. There was no other option. The institution had relinquished authority of the narrative.

Presently the loss of designations and the ongoing and permanent social disgrace that will afflict Andrew the most.

• Reduction: Lowered to just a commoner
• Prior Instance: The primary royal to lose his designations in contemporary era
• Armed Forces: Notably painful given his role in the engagement

He continues to be a constitutional officer, on paper able to act for the sovereign, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but not any of these will actually occur.

What Lies Ahead

Will people he encounters still defer to him? Could they still slip up and call him Sir? Will they even say Mr,

Of course, he is not retiring to suburbia, but to the royal family's vast property at a monarchical property.

In that place, he will be provided by the monarch with one of the estate properties and given some sort of personal stipend.

This is not his previous residence, where he paid a token rent for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit remote, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Outstanding Concerns

Matters remain unresolved. There are still records in the possession of American legislators to be revealed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Might parliament demand more
• Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the improper use of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a criminal probe into his behavior

Maybe for the time being the institutional damage to the crown is restricted. The statement from the royal household was clearly that the removal of titles was what the king, and particularly other senior monarchical figures, sought.

Changed Stance

The cessation of illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, remarkably, the short statement showed clearly that the institution were supporting the victim's version of events.

Even more, for the first time they finally showed consideration for the victims: "The censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the truth that he persists in refuting the allegations against him."

In the end it is entitlement, selfishness and inactivity that will kill the monarchy. In his foolishness, self-indulgence and greed, Andrew gives the impression never to have learned that lesson.