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It all began with a single photograph, possibly the most consequential ever snapped of a member of the monarchy.

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

Without that image, taken at a party in 2001, who would have believed the allegations of a adolescent who said she was moved across the ocean and compelled to have perfunctory intimate contact with a individual of the royal bloodline?

A curious, telling gesture by someone who had openly claimed to have not known about her, claimed he could no have had intimate contact with her, and yet paid a substantial sum of his mother's money to resolve a drawn-out court action.

A Long Period of Controversy

Considering this, conversations of the royals acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are inaccurate. This affair has continued for the majority of 15 years since that picture, and another image of Andrew walking congenially with a convicted sex offender came to light.

• Arrogance: How long did his brothers and sisters, perhaps even his relatives, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his employees and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some highly questionable associates given he unabashedly hosted them to palaces.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his extravagance with taxpayer funds.

Trips were documented in public records: chopper transfers from the palace to a golf course and back again in time for midday meal, private flights instead of regular transport, all for the convenience of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Additionally the entitlement which demanded deference when he appeared in a room or the profound consciousness about his designations used on his letterheads in letters to his friends.

He avoided accountability while his matriarch, who strangely spoiled him, was still surviving. The Queen did at least strip him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his ill-fated and, as revealed, untruthful media appearance six years ago.

Latest Events

Just in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the issuance of biographical works giving more disturbing particulars of his behavior and that of his companions.

More information have again revealed Andrew's thinking that he could avoid lying about his relationship with a notorious figure.

Society (and the press) were far ahead of the monarchy. There was nobody of any consequence to support him, a consequence of all those years of hubris.

Monarchical Concerns

The more intelligent royals understood that. The primary concern is to pass on the crown, if not as before at least intact and unblemished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the reputation of earlier rulers, showing they are valuable, responsible and attentive to their people.

His actions endangered all that in jeopardy in an era when deference and discretion is no longer sufficient.

Aftermath

Finally, the famously indecisive king was prodded additional. There was no alternative. The institution had lost control of the story.

Now it is the stripping of titles and the persistent and lifetime social disgrace that will hurt Andrew most deeply.

• Demotion: Reduced to just a private citizen
• Past Example: The initial monarch to lose his designations in contemporary era
• Armed Forces: Especially stinging given his service in the Falklands war

He continues to be a counsellor of state, theoretically able to substitute for the king, and he is still in the lineage to the crown, but neither of these will ever happen.

What Lies Ahead

Do individuals he comes across still show respect to him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Your Highness? Will they even say Mr,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the royal family's vast property at Sandringham.

There, he will be furnished by the monarch with one of the royal residences and given some type of private allowance.

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

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still files in the custody of American legislators to be disclosed.

• Political Pressure: Might parliament request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or examine the misuse of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a criminal probe into his actions

Possibly for the moment the institutional damage to the monarchy is limited. The narrative from the palace was clearly that the revocation of honorifics was what the king, and particularly other senior monarchical figures, sought.

A Shift in Position

No more deception that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the short announcement showed plainly that the royals were siding with the complainant's narrative of events.

Even more, for the initial instance they ultimately showed concern for the victims: "The measures are judged required, despite the truth that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."

Finally it is arrogance, selfishness and indolence that will kill the crown. In his stupidity, self-indulgence and corruption, Andrew seems never to have learned that truth.