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The saga started with a solitary photograph, arguably the most significant ever taken of a royal family member.

Present was the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a teenage girl, while another individual beamed suggestively in the backdrop.

Lacking that image, shot at a gathering in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a adolescent who declared she was trafficked across the ocean and obliged to have brief intimate contact with a individual of the monarchy?

A curious, indicative action by someone who had openly stated to have never known about her, claimed he could no have had intimate contact with her, and yet paid millions of monarchical funds to settle a protracted legal case.

A Long Period of Controversy

Considering this, conversations of the royal family acting decisively to distance themselves from Andrew are inaccurate. This scandal has continued for the largest portion of 15 years since that picture, and another photo of Andrew ambling pleasantly with a convicted sex offender emerged.

• Hubris: For what duration did his brothers and sisters, maybe even his parents, realize that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his aides and the law enforcement were performing their duties, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he publicly welcomed them to palaces.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with state resources.

Journeys were printed in royal annual reports: helicopter flights from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for dining, private flights instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

World of Deference

Additionally the presumption which demanded subservience when he walked into a space or the extreme obsession about his honorifics used on his official documents in messages to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who strangely pampered him, was still surviving. The Queen did at least revoke him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his catastrophic and, as revealed, deceptive media appearance six years ago.

Recent Developments

It was only in the last 14 days that events progressed rapidly, following the release of accounts giving more disturbing information of his behavior and that of his companions.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's assumption that he could avoid being untruthful about his contact with a disgraced individual.

The public (and the journalists) were far in advance of the royals. There was no one of any significance to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of arrogance.

Institutional Fears

The more intelligent royals understood that. The primary concern is to transfer the crown, if not as before at least whole and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to overcome the legacy of previous monarchs, proving they are valuable, responsible and responsive to their citizens.

He was placing all that in peril in an era when submission and discretion is no longer enough.

Aftermath

Finally, the notoriously uncertain king was pushed further. There was little choice. The institution had surrendered command of the story.

Presently the stripping of designations and the persistent and lifetime public humiliation that will pain Andrew most deeply.

• Demotion: Lowered to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The first monarch to surrender his titles in contemporary era
• Naval Career: Especially stinging given his role in the engagement

He continues to be a counsellor of state, on paper able to substitute for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but neither of these will truly come to pass.

Future Prospects

Can persons he encounters still show respect to him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Sir? Might they say Sir,

Naturally, he is not moving to a common area, but to the royal family's large property at Sandringham.

In that place, he will be provided by the king with one of the royal residences and given some form of financial support.

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

Outstanding Concerns

This is not over. There are still records in the hands of US Congress to be disclosed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Might parliament seek further action
• Financial Investigation: Or examine the waste of public money
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a criminal probe into his behavior

Maybe for the time being the institutional damage to the crown is restricted. The message from the institution was evidently that the removal of honorifics was what the monarch, and especially other senior royals, desired.

Changed Stance

No more pretence that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the brief communication showed plainly that the monarchy were aligning with the complainant's narrative of incidents.

Additionally, for the premiere occasion they finally showed consideration for the affected individuals: "The measures are judged required, notwithstanding the truth that he continues to deny the allegations against him."

Ultimately it is entitlement, self-seeking and indolence that will kill the monarchy. In his folly, personal excess and venality, Andrew seems never to have learned that truth.