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It all began with a solitary photograph, arguably the most significant ever taken of a member of the monarchy.

Present was the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a female youth, while a companion grinned knowingly in the rear.

Absent that image, shot at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a young woman who declared she was trafficked across the Atlantic and compelled to have brief intimate contact with a member of the royal family?

An odd, revealing gesture by someone who had overtly claimed to have not been aware of her, said he could no have had relations with her, and yet paid a substantial sum of monarchical funds to resolve a protracted lawsuit.

Years of Controversy

Against this backdrop, discussions of the monarchy acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are inaccurate. This controversy has continued for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and another photo of Andrew walking congenially with a disgraced financier emerged.

• Self-importance: How long did his family members, possibly even his parents, understand that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his staff and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he unabashedly hosted them to royal residences.
• Monetary Excess: If the household did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Trips were listed in public records: helicopter travel from the royal residence to a golf course and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

World of Deference

Additionally the arrogance which expected respect when he walked into a room or the profound obsession about his designations used on his official documents in communication to his associates.

He avoided accountability while his matriarch, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least revoke him of public duties and honorary colonelcies in the aftermath of his catastrophic and, as revealed, untruthful public statement six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last fortnight that events accelerated, following the release of accounts giving more troubling information of his behavior and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again exposed Andrew's thinking that he could get away with lying about his contact with a notorious figure.

People (and the journalists) were far more perceptive of the royals. There was no one of any consequence to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of arrogance.

Institutional Fears

The more intelligent monarchical figures realized that. The primary concern is to hand down the institution, if not as previously at least complete and unstained.

For generations the last 190 years trying to undo the image of past sovereigns, showing they are useful, accountable and reactive to their people.

Andrew was putting all that in jeopardy in an age when respect and privacy is no longer adequate.

Consequences

Ultimately, the well-known hesitant sovereign was prodded further. There was no other option. The royal household had lost control of the narrative.

Presently the loss of titles and the persistent and life-long public humiliation that will hurt Andrew the most.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Prior Instance: The primary member to surrender his titles in modern times
• Military Service: Especially hurtful given his duty in the engagement

He continues to be a counsellor of state, theoretically able to act for the sovereign, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but neither of these will ever happen.

Coming Developments

Do individuals he meets still defer to him? Will they still make mistakes and call him Prince? Will they even say Sir,

Certainly, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the sovereign's large estate at a monarchical property.

There, he will be supplied by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of personal stipend.

This differs from his prior accommodation, where he paid a token payment for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit remote, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Unresolved Issues

This is not over. There are still files in the possession of American legislators to be disclosed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Might parliament request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or examine the misuse of taxpayer funds
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Maybe for the present the institutional damage to the monarchy is limited. The statement from the institution was plainly that the stripping of designations was what the king, and especially other senior family members, sought.

Altered Approach

An end to illusion that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the concise statement showed clearly that the institution were siding with the complainant's version of events.

Additionally, for the premiere occasion they finally showed concern for the victims: "The censures are judged required, regardless of the fact that he persists in refuting the accusations against him."

In the end it is presumption, self-interest and inactivity that will destroy the monarchy. In his stupidity, self-indulgence and greed, Andrew appears never to have understood that truth.