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

Present was the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a teenage girl, while another individual smiled conspiratorially in the rear.

Absent that photograph, taken at a social event in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a young woman who stated she was moved across the sea and compelled to have cursory intimate contact with a prince of the royal bloodline?

A curious, revealing action by someone who had overtly stated to have no heard of her, asserted he could no have had intimate contact with her, and yet handed over a large amount of his mother's resources to settle a long-delayed court action.

Over a Decade of Controversy

Against this backdrop, discussions of the royals acting swiftly to distance themselves from Andrew are wide of the mark. This affair has continued for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and an additional photo of Andrew walking congenially with a disgraced financier surfaced.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his siblings, perhaps even his relatives, realize that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his employees and the law enforcement were doing their jobs, that he had some highly questionable associates given he unabashedly welcomed them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his extravagance with public money.

Trips were listed in public records: chopper travel from the estate to a golf course and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of regular transport, all for the comfort of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Then there was the presumption which expected respect when he entered a room or the supreme obsession about his royal titles used on his correspondence in messages to his associates.

He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who inexplicably indulged him, was still living. The monarch did at least strip him of royal responsibilities and honorary colonelcies in the consequence of his ill-fated and, we now know, mendacious public statement six years ago.

Latest Events

Merely in the last two weeks that events sped up, following the publication of accounts giving more disturbing particulars of his conduct and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could escape being untruthful about his interaction with a convicted criminal.

Society (and the media) were far in advance of the monarchy. There was no one of any significance to defend him, a result of all those years of arrogance.

Royal Worries

The more intelligent monarchical figures recognized that. The primary concern is to transfer the monarchy, if not as previously at least intact and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of past sovereigns, showing they are valuable, responsible and reactive to their citizens.

His actions endangered all that in peril in an era when respect and discretion is no longer adequate.

Aftermath

Ultimately, the notoriously hesitant king was prodded more. There was little choice. The palace had lost control of the narrative.

Now it is the removal of titles and the continued and permanent public humiliation that will hurt Andrew the most.

• Reduction: Lowered to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Past Example: The initial member to surrender his honorifics in recent history
• Naval Career: Especially hurtful given his service in the Falklands war

He is still a constitutional officer, theoretically able to substitute for the monarch, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but neither of these will truly happen.

Coming Developments

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

Of course, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the royal family's large grounds at a royal residence.

At that location, he will be furnished by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some type of personal stipend.

This is not his former home, where he paid a nominal rent for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit far, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Outstanding Concerns

Matters remain unresolved. There are still records in the possession of American legislators to be disclosed.

• Political Pressure: Will legislators request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or examine the waste of taxpayer funds
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a police investigation into his behavior

Maybe for the time being the harm to the monarchy to the crown is limited. The message from the royal household was clearly that the removal of honorifics was what the monarch, and particularly other senior royals, desired.

Changed Stance

The cessation of pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, remarkably, the concise statement showed clearly that the institution were aligning with the victim's narrative of incidents.

Furthermore, for the first time they eventually showed consideration for the affected individuals: "The censures are considered essential, notwithstanding the reality that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."

Finally it is entitlement, self-interest and laziness that will undermine the institution. In his folly, self-indulgence and corruption, Andrew appears never to have learned that reality.