🔗 Share this article

This episode commenced with a isolated photograph, possibly the most impactful ever captured of a royal family member.

There stood the Baron Killyleagh, standing closely beside a young woman, while an associate beamed knowingly in the background.

Without that photograph, taken at a social event in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the allegations of a adolescent who stated she was moved across the ocean and compelled to have brief sexual encounters with a individual of the royal bloodline?

A strange, revealing move by someone who had publicly asserted to have no known about her, claimed he could no have had intimate contact with her, and yet provided a large amount of monarchical money to avert a long-delayed legal case.

Years of Scandal

Against this backdrop, talk of the royals acting decisively to cut Andrew off are misguided. This affair has endured for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and an additional snapshot of Andrew walking amiably with a convicted sex offender emerged.

• Self-importance: How long did his siblings, perhaps even his relatives, understand that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his aides and the law enforcement were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he publicly invited them to palaces.
• Monetary Excess: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Trips were documented in official documents: chopper travel from the estate to a sporting venue and back again in time for lunch, exclusive air travel instead of regular transport, all for the convenience of "the travel enthusiast".

Existence of Entitlement

Then there was the arrogance which required subservience when he walked into a room or the extreme obsession about his royal titles used on his letterheads in messages to his personal acquaintances.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who unaccountably indulged him, was still living. The Queen did at least remove him of public duties and military positions in the wake of his ill-fated and, as revealed, untruthful television interview six years ago.

Recent Developments

It was only in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the release of books giving more disturbing details of his behavior and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could escape deceiving about his interaction with a notorious figure.

Society (and the media) were far more perceptive of the royal family. There was no one of any significance to defend him, a outcome of all those years of hubris.

Royal Worries

The more intelligent royals realized that. The one imperative is to hand down the monarchy, if not as before at least whole and unstained.

For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of previous monarchs, showing they are beneficial, responsible and attentive to their citizens.

His actions endangered all that in jeopardy in an era when respect and discretion is no longer sufficient.

The Fallout

Ultimately, the well-known hesitant king was pressured further. There was no alternative. The palace had surrendered command of the story.

Presently the stripping of titles and the continued and lifetime public humiliation that will afflict Andrew the most.

• Downgrading: Demoted to just a commoner
• Prior Instance: The initial royal to forfeit his designations in modern times
• Armed Forces: Notably painful given his role in the conflict

He continues to be a royal advisor, theoretically able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but neither of these will actually happen.

Coming Developments

Can persons he meets still show respect to him? Could they still make mistakes and call him Prince? Will they even say Mr,

Certainly, he is not retiring to an ordinary town, but to the royal family's large grounds at a monarchical property.

At that location, he will be supplied by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some form of private allowance.

This is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a nominal payment for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit remote, but even so it may not be far enough.

Unresolved Issues

Matters remain unresolved. There are still records in the possession of US Congress to be revealed.

• Political Pressure: Could lawmakers request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or examine the misuse of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a criminal probe into his conduct

Possibly for the moment the harm to the monarchy to the institution is contained. The message from the institution was clearly that the revocation of designations was what the monarch, and particularly other senior family members, wanted.

Altered Approach

The cessation of illusion that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, notably, the brief statement showed clearly that the royals were supporting the complainant's account of occurrences.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they eventually showed concern for the affected individuals: "The measures are considered essential, notwithstanding the reality that he persists in refuting the claims against him."

Finally it is presumption, self-seeking and laziness that will destroy the monarchy. In his stupidity, personal excess and corruption, Andrew gives the impression never to have grasped that truth.