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

There stood the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a teenage girl, while another individual beamed knowingly in the background.

Without that photograph, captured at a gathering in 2001, few would have credited the assertions of a adolescent who stated she was trafficked across the ocean and obliged to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a member of the monarchy?

A curious, revealing gesture by someone who had openly stated to have no been aware of her, said he could not have had sex with her, and yet paid a large amount of his mother's resources to avert a protracted legal case.

A Long Period of Controversy

In this context, conversations of the monarchy acting swiftly to cut Andrew off are misguided. This affair has continued for the better part of 15 years since that image, and a further photo of Andrew strolling congenially with a notorious individual came to light.

• Self-importance: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his parents, understand that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his staff and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some extremely unsavory associates given he openly invited them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the household did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Journeys were documented in public records: chopper flights from the palace to a golf course and back again in time for midday meal, chartered planes instead of regular transport, all for the comfort of "the travel enthusiast".

Existence of Entitlement

Then there was the arrogance which expected respect when he walked into a room or the extreme consciousness about his royal titles used on his correspondence in communication to his associates.

He avoided accountability while his mother, who strangely spoiled him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least remove him of official roles and ceremonial ranks in the wake of his disastrous and, as revealed, deceptive television interview six years ago.

Recent Developments

It was only in the last two weeks that events accelerated, following the issuance of books giving more grim particulars of his actions and that of his companions.

More information have again revealed Andrew's assumption that he could avoid lying about his interaction with a convicted criminal.

The public (and the media) were far ahead of the royal family. There was nobody of any significance to speak up for him, a outcome of all those years of arrogance.

Royal Worries

The more astute monarchical figures realized that. The one imperative is to pass on the monarchy, if not as heretofore at least whole and untarnished.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to undo the image of previous monarchs, demonstrating they are useful, accountable and reactive to their subjects.

His actions endangered all that in peril in an age when deference and discretion is no longer enough.

Consequences

Eventually, the well-known uncertain king was prodded more. There was no alternative. The institution had lost control of the story.

Presently the loss of titles and the continued and life-long personal shame that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Prior Instance: The initial royal to surrender his titles in contemporary era
• Naval Career: Particularly painful given his service in the Falklands war

He is still a constitutional officer, on paper able to act for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the monarchy, but not any of these will actually happen.

Coming Developments

Do individuals he meets still show respect to him? Could they still slip up and call him Prince? Would they say Andrew,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to suburbia, but to the monarchy's large grounds at a royal residence.

In that place, he will be supplied by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some type of personal stipend.

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

Unresolved Issues

Matters remain unresolved. There are still documents in the hands of American legislators to be revealed.

• Political Pressure: Might parliament seek further action
• Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the misuse of public money
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his actions

Possibly for the present the reputational impact to the monarchy is contained. The statement from the institution was clearly that the revocation of honorifics was what the monarch, and especially other senior monarchical figures, desired.

Changed Stance

The cessation of illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, significantly, the brief announcement showed plainly that the institution were aligning with the complainant's version of events.

Additionally, for the premiere occasion they finally showed consideration for the affected individuals: "These actions are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the reality that he maintains his innocence of the allegations against him."

In the end it is presumption, self-interest and inactivity that will destroy the institution. In his foolishness, personal excess and corruption, Andrew appears never to have learned that lesson.