Exiling Andrew

How was your week? It probably wasn't as bad as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's. Gone are his titles and honorifics, his position in the royal family, the imprimatur of the British establishment, and his 30-room grace-and-favour "lodge". He remains, for now, in the line of succession but the purge of Andrew is every bit as efficient as the deletion of problem DJs and celebrities of yesteryear from the BBC archive. All that remains is his vice-admiralty of the Royal Navy, and its days are numbered. According to the Sunday papers, a half-million pay off, an annual stipend from the King, and accommodation out of the public eye on the Sandringham estate is the shape of his exile. As crushing this is for him, there wouldn't be many people who would sniff at these spoils of disgrace.

It was oft-noted while the Queen was alive that she was ruthless in preserving the family firm, but this goes beyond her treatment of Diana, Sarah Ferguson, and the well-publicised fallings outs and failed reconciliations with Prince Harry. Andrew, somewhat protected by his mother's most-favoured-son status is not so indulged by big brother. His sacking and disowning is almost on par with the expulsion of Edward VIII/the Duke of Windsor 90 years ago, though hopefully Andrew won't further embarrass his family by cosying up to fascists.

There has been unanimity between the King and the leaders of his most loyal political parties during Andrew's filleting. For Keir Starmer, being seen to back tough measures against Andrew will, he hopes, bury memories of Peter Mandelson and his unfortunate Jeffrey Epstein connections. And for Kemi Badenoch, the Tories still have to pretend their political standing matches their constitutional relevance. More importantly, they are one because Andrew's relationship to Epstein and the harrowing allegations levied by Virginia Giuffre was a blot on an institution already on the skids, and further embarrassments were likely. There have been lurid stories about Andrew's sexual escapades while working as an overseas trade envoy, dodgy business transactions, and unhelpful questions over his murky income arrangements. And there is the drip, drip of further revelations. Like uncomfortable emails, and more secrets ready to spill from the Epstein files.

The King was not prepared to tough any of this out, and so for the family's greater legitimacy much water needed putting between the royal household and Andrew. The thoroughness of the break is demonstrative of Charles III's seriousness of purpose. Getting pictured with an alleged sex offender at family gatherings or on the palace balcony would tarnish by association, and raise questions about how much the King and golden boy Prince William knew, and when. Likewise, for the mainstream parties, with their reputation and political roles in abject crisis, there was no question of them not rallying around the crown and endorsing the King's tough measures.

What does this unwelcome episode for our sovereign tell us? That, unlike his Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, he is aware of the monarchy's precarity and has a firm grasp on public opinion. Certainly more so than dear m'ma. But this is an institution in retreat. Defending it by offloading a liability is quite easy, if personally painful. The challenge is winning over new support and securing the future. An altogether much harder task.

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