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

Present was the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a young woman, while an associate grinned suggestively in the rear.

Without that photograph, shot at a gathering in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a teenager who declared she was transported across the ocean and compelled to have perfunctory intimate contact with a member of the royal bloodline?

A curious, telling action by someone who had openly stated to have no been aware of her, claimed he could not have had relations with her, and yet handed over a large amount of his mother's resources to settle a long-delayed court action.

Years of Disgrace

Considering this, conversations of the monarchy acting firmly to distance themselves from Andrew are wide of the mark. This scandal has persisted for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and a further photo of Andrew walking amiably with a convicted sex offender came to light.

• Hubris: For what duration did his family members, maybe even his relatives, know that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his aides and the police were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he unabashedly invited them to estates.
• Monetary Excess: If the family did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Travel were printed in royal annual reports: chopper transfers from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for lunch, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the comfort of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the entitlement which expected subservience when he walked into a space or the supreme consciousness about his designations used on his official documents in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who strangely pampered him, was still alive. The Queen did at least remove him of royal responsibilities and honorary colonelcies in the wake of his disastrous and, it is now clear, mendacious television interview six years ago.

Current Situation

Merely in the last fortnight that events sped up, following the issuance of biographical works giving more grim particulars of his conduct and that of his associates.

More information have again highlighted Andrew's assumption that he could escape being untruthful about his relationship with a notorious figure.

People (and the journalists) were far in advance of the royal family. There was no one of any importance to support him, a result of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser royals recognized that. The key objective is to transfer the crown, if not as before at least intact and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to overcome the reputation of previous monarchs, proving they are beneficial, responsible and attentive to their subjects.

He was placing all that in peril in an age when respect and privacy is no longer sufficient.

Aftermath

Eventually, the notoriously indecisive monarch was prodded more. There was little choice. The royal household had surrendered command of the narrative.

Presently the stripping of designations and the ongoing and lifetime public humiliation that will hurt Andrew the most.

• Downgrading: Lowered to just a private citizen
• Past Example: The initial member to forfeit his designations in contemporary era
• Military Service: Notably stinging given his duty in the engagement

He is still a royal advisor, on paper able to act for the king, and he is still eighth in line to the monarchy, but none of these will truly happen.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he comes across still acknowledge him? Will they still forget themselves and call him Prince? Might they say Sir,

Certainly, he is not withdrawing to a common area, but to the royal family's vast estate at Sandringham.

In that place, he will be supplied by the monarch with one of the estate properties and given some sort of private allowance.

This is not his previous residence, where he paid a nominal rent for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit remote, but even so it may not be far enough.

Outstanding Concerns

This is not over. There are still documents in the hands of overseas authorities to be revealed.

• Political Pressure: Might legislators request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or scrutinize the improper use of state resources
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a police investigation into his behavior

Possibly for the moment the institutional damage to the institution is limited. The narrative from the palace was clearly that the revocation of titles was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior royals, wanted.

Altered Approach

An end to pretence that Andrew was acting willingly. And, significantly, the concise statement showed clearly that the institution were supporting the accuser's account of events.

Additionally, for the premiere occasion they finally showed concern for the victims: "The measures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the truth that he continues to deny the claims against him."

Ultimately it is arrogance, self-seeking and inactivity that will destroy the institution. In his foolishness, personal excess and corruption, Andrew seems never to have grasped that reality.