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The saga started with a single photograph, perhaps the most consequential ever captured of a individual from the royal household.

Present was the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a teenage girl, while a companion smiled suggestively in the backdrop.

Absent that snapshot, shot at a party in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a teenager who said she was moved across the sea and obliged to have brief intimate contact with a individual of the monarchy?

A curious, telling move by someone who had publicly stated to have not been aware of her, said he could never have had relations with her, and yet paid a large amount of his mother's money to avert a long-delayed lawsuit.

Years of Disgrace

In this context, discussions of the royal family acting decisively to cut Andrew off are misguided. This controversy has persisted for the majority of 15 years since that picture, and a further image of Andrew ambling amiably with a convicted sex offender surfaced.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his family members, perhaps even his relatives, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Problematic Connections: They must have understood, if his aides and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he publicly welcomed them to palaces.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his extravagance with public money.

Trips were printed in public records: private aircraft transfers from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of regular transport, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

World of Deference

Furthermore the entitlement which required deference when he walked into a space or the extreme awareness about his designations used on his correspondence in letters to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who strangely indulged him, was still living. The monarch did at least remove him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the aftermath of his catastrophic and, as revealed, mendacious media appearance six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last fortnight that events accelerated, following the publication of accounts giving more disturbing details of his conduct and that of his connections.

Additional revelations have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could get away with being untruthful about his interaction with a notorious figure.

People (and the media) were far in advance of the royal family. There was not a single person of any importance to support him, a result of all those years of hubris.

Monarchical Concerns

The more intelligent monarchical figures realized that. The key objective is to hand down the monarchy, if not as heretofore at least complete and unblemished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of past sovereigns, proving they are beneficial, dutiful and responsive to their subjects.

His actions endangered all that in danger in an time when deference and discretion is no longer adequate.

Consequences

Ultimately, the well-known indecisive king was pushed further. There was no other option. The institution had surrendered command of the story.

Presently the removal of honorifics and the persistent and life-long social disgrace that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just a private citizen
• Historical Precedent: The initial member to lose his honorifics in contemporary era
• Naval Career: Especially stinging given his duty in the Falklands war

He remains a counsellor of state, on paper able to act for the king, and he is still in the lineage to the monarchy, but none of these will ever occur.

Coming Developments

Can persons he encounters still defer to him? Could they still slip up and call him Your Highness? Might they say Sir,

Certainly, he is not retiring to a common area, but to the monarchy's extensive property at Sandringham.

At that location, he will be provided by the sovereign with one of the royal residences and given some sort of personal stipend.

This differs from his former home, where he paid a nominal lease for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit far, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still documents in the possession of US Congress to be revealed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Could lawmakers seek further action
• Financial Investigation: Or investigate the improper use of state resources
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his actions

Maybe for the present the institutional damage to the institution is limited. The message from the institution was evidently that the removal of titles was what the monarch, and especially other senior family members, wanted.

Changed Stance

An end to pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, remarkably, the concise statement showed evidently that the institution were supporting the complainant's account of incidents.

Additionally, for the premiere occasion they ultimately showed regard for the survivors: "These actions are deemed necessary, regardless of the truth that he persists in refuting the allegations against him."

Finally it is arrogance, self-seeking and laziness that will kill the crown. In his stupidity, personal excess and venality, Andrew seems never to have understood that lesson.