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It all began with a isolated photograph, perhaps the most significant ever taken of a member of the monarchy.

In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a young woman, while a companion beamed conspiratorially in the background.

Without that snapshot, shot at a gathering in 2001, few would have credited the claims of a young woman who stated she was trafficked across the ocean and obliged to have perfunctory intimate contact with a member of the royal bloodline?

A curious, revealing move by someone who had openly asserted to have no been aware of her, claimed he could not have had relations with her, and yet handed over a large amount of family resources to resolve a protracted legal case.

Over a Decade of Disgrace

In this context, conversations of the royal family acting firmly to cut Andrew off are wide of the mark. This scandal has persisted for the largest portion of 15 years since that photograph, and an additional image of Andrew ambling amiably with a disgraced financier came to light.

• Hubris: How long did his family members, perhaps even his relatives, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Questionable Associations: They must have known, if his employees and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he openly welcomed them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the household did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with taxpayer funds.

Journeys were listed in royal annual reports: helicopter travel from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for midday meal, chartered planes instead of regular transport, all for the benefit of "the travel enthusiast".

A Life of Privilege

Furthermore the arrogance which required deference when he walked into a area or the extreme consciousness about his honorifics used on his correspondence in messages to his associates.

He avoided accountability while his matriarch, who strangely spoiled him, was still alive. The Queen did at least strip him of royal responsibilities and honorary colonelcies in the aftermath of his catastrophic and, we now know, deceptive television interview six years ago.

Recent Developments

Just in the last 14 days that events progressed rapidly, following the release of books giving more disturbing details of his behavior and that of his companions.

More information have again highlighted Andrew's assumption that he could avoid lying about his relationship with a disgraced individual.

The public (and the press) were far in advance of the monarchy. There was no one of any importance to support him, a consequence of all those years of arrogance.

Royal Worries

The more astute family members understood that. The key objective is to transfer the monarchy, if not as previously at least intact and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the reputation of past sovereigns, proving they are beneficial, responsible and responsive to their citizens.

His actions endangered all that in peril in an age when submission and privacy is no longer sufficient.

Aftermath

Finally, the well-known indecisive king was pushed additional. There was little choice. The institution had relinquished authority of the story.

Currently the removal of designations and the ongoing and life-long public humiliation that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just a private citizen
• Historical Precedent: The primary royal to forfeit his honorifics in contemporary era
• Military Service: Particularly hurtful given his role in the Falklands war

He is still a counsellor of state, in principle able to stand in for the king, and he is still in the lineage to the crown, but not any of these will ever come to pass.

What Lies Ahead

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

Of course, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the monarchy's large estate at Sandringham.

At that location, he will be supplied by the king with one of the royal residences and given some form of financial support.

It is not his former home, where he paid a minimal lease for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit far, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Outstanding Concerns

Matters remain unresolved. There are still records in the custody of US Congress to be made public.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Might legislators request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or scrutinize the waste of state resources
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Maybe for the time being the institutional damage to the monarchy is contained. The message from the institution was plainly that the removal of honorifics was what the monarch, and especially other senior monarchical figures, wanted.

Changed Stance

An end to illusion that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the short communication showed evidently that the monarchy were aligning with the accuser's account of events.

Even more, for the initial instance they finally showed consideration for the survivors: "These actions are considered essential, notwithstanding the fact that he maintains his innocence of the allegations against him."

Finally it is presumption, self-interest and laziness that will destroy the institution. In his stupidity, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew appears never to have understood that lesson.