In distancing itself from Prince Andrew, Royal Family sets sights on the future

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The statement from Buckingham Palace was remarkable in its terseness.

But the 42-word missive announcing that Prince Andrew had lost his military affiliations and royal patronages was remarkably symbolic, too, representing how far his reputation has fallen in recent years, along with how focused the institution of the monarchy can be as it looks toward its future.

The two-sentence statement came the day after Andrew, Queen Elizabeth's second son and the ninth in line to the throne, lost his attempt to have a sexual abuse lawsuit against him tossed out in a New York City court.

In some ways, the statement was a reflection of a streamlining already going on within the upper echelons of the Royal Family and showed just what they will do to try to protect the public image of the institution if it appeared threatened. 

"There's a very strong emphasis in the public iconography of the Royal Family on the direct line [to the throne] and an emphasis on distancing themselves from more junior members of the Royal Family if they are creating controversy," Carolyn Harris, a Toronto-based royal historian and author, said in an interview.

There is little doubt Andrew, 61, has been creating controversy.

He has vehemently denied the allegations at the heart of the lawsuit that alleges that two decades ago, he sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre, a 17-year-old American who says she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender who died by suicide in jail in 2019 and was a friend of the prince.

The court of public opinion, however, has been moving toward its own judgment. An interview Andrew did a few years back with the BBC regarding his friendship with Epstein was widely regarded as a train wreck.

"For a number of years, certainly after that disastrous [BBC] interview in 2019, it's been very clear that he's not going to be able to return to an active public role within the Royal Family," said Harris.

It's a notable fall for a member of the Royal Family who Harris says was once reasonably popular, especially after his military service during the Falklands War in 1982. 

But some of the sheen wore off over the years, with tabloids dubbing him Air Miles Andy, given the expenses-paid travel he racked up as a U.K. trade envoy. 

WATCH | Prince Andrew loses patronages and military affiliations:

Then came the controversy and questions of his judgment over his friendship with Epstein, and the allegations from Giuffre now at the heart of the lawsuit.