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This episode commenced with a isolated photograph, perhaps the most significant ever snapped of a member of the monarchy.

Present was the Baron Killyleagh, arm-in-arm a female youth, while another individual beamed knowingly in the rear.

Absent that photograph, taken at a party in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a young woman who declared she was moved across the sea and forced to have cursory intimate contact with a prince of the monarchy?

A strange, telling action by someone who had overtly claimed to have never known about her, claimed he could not have had relations with her, and yet paid a substantial sum of monarchical resources to settle a long-delayed court action.

Over a Decade of Controversy

Against this backdrop, discussions of the royals acting decisively to cut Andrew off are wide of the mark. This affair has continued for the majority of 15 years since that photograph, and a further snapshot of Andrew walking pleasantly with a disgraced financier emerged.

• Self-importance: To what extent did his siblings, maybe even his mother and father, understand that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Problematic Connections: They must have understood, if his employees and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he unabashedly welcomed them to estates.
• Financial Extravagance: If the family did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Journeys were documented in official documents: chopper transfers from the estate to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, chartered planes instead of regular transport, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the presumption which demanded subservience when he entered a space or the extreme awareness about his designations used on his official documents in letters to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who inexplicably spoiled him, was still living. The monarch did at least remove him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the consequence of his ill-fated and, we now know, deceptive public statement six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the publication of biographical works giving more grim details of his conduct and that of his connections.

More information have again highlighted Andrew's belief that he could avoid being untruthful about his contact with a convicted criminal.

People (and the media) were far ahead of the royals. There was nobody of any consequence to defend him, a consequence of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser royals recognized that. The primary concern is to transfer the crown, if not as heretofore at least complete and unblemished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to undo the reputation of previous monarchs, showing they are useful, dutiful and attentive to their subjects.

He was placing all that in jeopardy in an era when respect and secrecy is no longer enough.

The Fallout

Finally, the well-known hesitant king was pushed additional. There was no other option. The royal household had lost control of the narrative.

Presently the loss of honorifics and the ongoing and life-long social disgrace that will pain Andrew the most.

• Downgrading: Lowered to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Past Example: The initial monarch to forfeit his titles in contemporary era
• Naval Career: Especially painful given his duty in the Falklands war

He continues to be a constitutional officer, in principle able to act for the king, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but neither of these will truly happen.

Future Prospects

Do individuals he comes across still acknowledge him? Could they still slip up and call him Sir? Will they even say Andrew,

Of course, he is not retiring to suburbia, but to the royal family's large grounds at a monarchical property.

In that place, he will be supplied by the sovereign 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 token lease for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit remote, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Outstanding Concerns

Matters remain unresolved. There are still records in the possession of overseas authorities to be disclosed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Will legislators seek further action
• Fiscal Review: Or examine the waste of state resources
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a police investigation into his conduct

Possibly for the moment the harm to the monarchy to the crown is restricted. The message from the royal household was plainly that the removal of designations was what the king, and notably other senior monarchical figures, sought.

A Shift in Position

The cessation of illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, notably, the brief announcement showed evidently that the royals were aligning with the victim's version of events.

Furthermore, for the premiere occasion they ultimately showed concern for the affected individuals: "These actions are considered essential, notwithstanding the truth that he continues to deny the allegations against him."

Finally it is presumption, selfishness and indolence that will destroy the institution. In his folly, personal excess and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have grasped that reality.