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It all began with a solitary photograph, possibly the most consequential ever taken of a royal family member.

Present was the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a female youth, while another individual smiled suggestively in the backdrop.

Lacking that snapshot, taken at a party in 2001, few would have credited the claims of a adolescent who stated she was transported across the sea and forced to have brief intimate contact with a prince of the royal family?

A strange, telling move by someone who had publicly asserted to have no known about her, claimed he could no have had relations with her, and yet provided a substantial sum of his mother's resources to avert a long-delayed lawsuit.

A Long Period of Controversy

Against this backdrop, talk of the monarchy acting decisively to cut Andrew off are wide of the mark. This affair has continued for the majority of 15 years since that image, and another photo of Andrew strolling congenially with a notorious individual emerged.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his family members, maybe even his parents, understand that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Questionable Associations: They must have realized, if his aides and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some highly questionable companions given he openly invited them to estates.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the family did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with state resources.

Trips were documented in royal annual reports: helicopter transfers from the palace to a golf course and back again in time for lunch, chartered planes instead of regular transport, all for the comfort of "Airmiles Andy".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the arrogance which expected deference when he walked into a space or the profound obsession about his royal titles used on his correspondence in messages to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who unaccountably indulged him, was still surviving. The sovereign did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the wake of his ill-fated and, we now know, deceptive media appearance six years ago.

Recent Developments

Merely in the last two weeks that events sped up, following the release of books giving more disturbing information of his behavior and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could avoid being untruthful about his relationship with a notorious figure.

Society (and the media) were far in advance of the royals. There was not a single person of any consequence to defend him, a consequence of all those years of arrogance.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser monarchical figures understood that. The key objective is to hand down the institution, if not as before at least complete and untarnished.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to undo the image of earlier rulers, proving they are useful, responsible and attentive to their people.

Andrew was putting all that in jeopardy in an age when submission and secrecy is no longer enough.

Aftermath

Eventually, the well-known indecisive king was pushed further. There was little choice. The royal household had relinquished authority of the narrative.

Currently the removal of honorifics and the ongoing and life-long public humiliation that will hurt Andrew most deeply.

• Reduction: Lowered to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The first monarch to surrender his titles in modern times
• Military Service: Notably stinging given his duty in the Falklands war

He remains a royal advisor, in principle able to act for the king, and he is still in the lineage to the monarchy, but neither of these will truly occur.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he meets still defer to him? Will they still slip up and call him Sir? Might they say Andrew,

Of course, he is not retiring to a common area, but to the sovereign's extensive property at a monarchical property.

At that location, he will be furnished by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of financial support.

This differs from his previous residence, where he paid a token payment for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit remote, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still documents in the custody of overseas authorities to be made public.

• Parliamentary Interest: Might legislators request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or investigate the improper use of public money
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Maybe for the time being the institutional damage to the crown is contained. The statement from the royal household was plainly that the stripping of honorifics was what the monarch, and especially other senior family members, desired.

A Shift in Position

The cessation of pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, notably, the brief communication showed clearly that the royals were siding with the victim's account of occurrences.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they eventually showed concern for the victims: "These actions are considered essential, regardless of the fact that he continues to deny the claims against him."

Ultimately it is entitlement, selfishness and indolence that will destroy the monarchy. In his foolishness, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew seems never to have grasped that truth.