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It all began with a solitary photograph, arguably the most consequential ever taken of a member of the monarchy.

There stood the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a young woman, while an associate beamed suggestively in the background.

Without that snapshot, captured at a party in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the assertions of a adolescent who declared she was transported across the sea and forced to have perfunctory relations with a individual of the royal bloodline?

An odd, revealing gesture by someone who had overtly claimed to have no heard of her, asserted he could never have had intimate contact with her, and yet provided millions of his mother's resources to avert a long-delayed court action.

Years of Scandal

In this context, discussions of the royals acting firmly to cut Andrew off are inaccurate. This scandal has endured for the majority of 15 years since that image, and a further snapshot of Andrew strolling pleasantly with a disgraced financier emerged.

• Arrogance: How long did his siblings, perhaps even his mother and father, understand that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Questionable Associations: They must have realized, if his aides and the law enforcement were performing their duties, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he unabashedly welcomed them to estates.
• Financial Extravagance: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with public money.

Journeys were printed in royal annual reports: chopper travel from the estate to a country club and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of commercial flights, all for the convenience of "the travel enthusiast".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the entitlement which expected deference when he appeared in a space or the profound obsession about his honorifics used on his correspondence in communication to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who inexplicably pampered him, was still alive. The monarch did at least remove him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his disastrous and, as revealed, deceptive public statement six years ago.

Recent Developments

Just in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the release of books giving more troubling details of his actions and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's assumption that he could escape deceiving about his contact with a disgraced individual.

The public (and the journalists) were far in advance of the royals. There was no one of any significance to support him, a consequence of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser monarchical figures understood that. The primary concern is to hand down the institution, if not as heretofore at least complete and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of earlier rulers, proving they are useful, responsible and reactive to their subjects.

He was placing all that in jeopardy in an era when deference and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

Consequences

Eventually, the notoriously hesitant king was prodded more. There was no alternative. The royal household had relinquished authority of the story.

Now it is the stripping of designations and the continued and lifetime personal shame that will afflict Andrew the most.

• Reduction: Demoted to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The primary royal to lose his honorifics in contemporary era
• Naval Career: Notably stinging given his duty in the conflict

He is still a constitutional officer, in principle able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still in the lineage to the crown, but none of these will ever occur.

Coming Developments

Do individuals he meets still acknowledge him? Might they still slip up and call him Prince? Might they say Andrew,

Certainly, he is not moving to suburbia, but to the sovereign's large estate at a royal residence.

In that place, he will be provided by the sovereign with one of the grace and favour houses and given some form of personal stipend.

It is not his former home, where he paid a nominal rent for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit distant, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Unresolved Issues

The situation continues. There are still files in the hands of overseas authorities to be disclosed.

• Political Pressure: Might lawmakers request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or scrutinize the misuse of taxpayer funds
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a police investigation into his actions

Perhaps for the time being the institutional damage to the institution is restricted. The narrative from the palace was clearly that the removal of designations was what the king, and especially other senior monarchical figures, desired.

Changed Stance

The cessation of deception that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the brief communication showed plainly that the institution were supporting the complainant's account of occurrences.

Even more, for the first time they eventually showed concern for the affected individuals: "The measures are considered essential, notwithstanding the truth that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

Finally it is presumption, selfishness and laziness that will undermine the monarchy. In his foolishness, personal excess and corruption, Andrew appears never to have understood that lesson.