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It all began with a solitary photograph, possibly the most significant ever taken of a individual from the royal household.

Present was the Earl of Inverness, with his arm around a female youth, while another individual grinned suggestively in the rear.

Without that snapshot, taken at a social event in 2001, few would have credited the claims of a young woman who stated she was transported across the sea and compelled to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a prince of the royal bloodline?

A curious, indicative gesture by someone who had overtly stated to have never heard of her, claimed he could no have had sex with her, and yet paid millions of family money to avert a protracted lawsuit.

Years of Disgrace

Against this backdrop, talk of the royals acting decisively to cut Andrew off are inaccurate. This controversy has continued for the majority of 15 years since that picture, and another image of Andrew walking congenially with a disgraced financier surfaced.

• Hubris: For what duration did his brothers and sisters, maybe even his parents, know that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have known, if his staff and the police were performing their duties, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he publicly invited them to royal residences.
• Financial Extravagance: If the household did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Travel were listed in public records: helicopter travel from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, private flights instead of regular transport, all for the benefit of "the travel enthusiast".

Existence of Entitlement

Then there was the presumption which expected subservience when he appeared in a space or the extreme obsession about his honorifics used on his letterheads in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He avoided accountability while his matriarch, who inexplicably pampered him, was still surviving. The Queen did at least remove him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the aftermath of his disastrous and, as revealed, mendacious public statement six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the release of biographical works giving more troubling details of his actions and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again revealed Andrew's belief that he could get away with being untruthful about his relationship with a disgraced individual.

People (and the journalists) were far more perceptive of the royal family. There was no one of any consequence to defend him, a outcome of all those years of hubris.

Monarchical Concerns

The more astute monarchical figures understood that. The key objective is to hand down the institution, if not as before at least complete and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to overcome the image of past sovereigns, showing they are beneficial, responsible and reactive to their citizens.

His actions endangered all that in jeopardy in an age when respect and privacy is no longer adequate.

Consequences

Finally, the notoriously hesitant king was pushed additional. There was little choice. The institution had relinquished authority of the narrative.

Currently the removal of titles and the persistent and life-long social disgrace that will afflict Andrew the most.

• Reduction: Lowered to just a private citizen
• Prior Instance: The first monarch to forfeit his titles in recent history
• Armed Forces: Particularly hurtful given his duty in the conflict

He continues to be a counsellor of state, in principle able to act for the sovereign, and he is still in the succession to the throne, but not any of these will ever come to pass.

Coming Developments

Do individuals he encounters still defer to him? Could they still make mistakes and call him Your Highness? Might they say Mr,

Of course, he is not moving to a common area, but to the royal family's extensive grounds at a monarchical property.

At that location, he will be furnished by the monarch with one of the grace and favour houses and given some form of private allowance.

It is not his previous residence, where he paid a minimal payment for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit far, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Unresolved Issues

The situation continues. There are still records in the hands of American legislators to be made public.

• Political Pressure: Will legislators seek further action
• Fiscal Review: Or investigate the misuse of public money
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Perhaps for the time being the institutional damage to the monarchy is restricted. The message from the palace was evidently that the revocation of designations was what the monarch, and particularly other senior family members, desired.

A Shift in Position

An end to deception that Andrew was acting willingly. And, remarkably, the short communication showed plainly that the institution were siding with the accuser's account of incidents.

Furthermore, for the initial instance they finally showed regard for the affected individuals: "The measures are judged required, regardless of the reality that he continues to deny the accusations against him."

In the end it is presumption, self-interest and inactivity that will destroy the crown. In his foolishness, self-indulgence and corruption, Andrew gives the impression never to have grasped that reality.