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

Present was the Duke of York, standing closely beside a female youth, while another individual smiled knowingly in the rear.

Lacking that snapshot, shot at a gathering in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the allegations of a young woman who said she was moved across the sea and obliged to have perfunctory intimate contact with a member of the royal family?

An odd, telling action by someone who had publicly claimed to have not been aware of her, said he could no have had relations with her, and yet handed over a large amount of family resources to resolve a drawn-out lawsuit.

Over a Decade of Controversy

Against this backdrop, discussions of the monarchy acting swiftly to cut Andrew off are inaccurate. This scandal has continued for the majority of 15 years since that picture, and an additional photo of Andrew walking amiably with a notorious individual emerged.

• Hubris: For what duration did his brothers and sisters, maybe even his parents, realize that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Questionable Associations: They must have understood, if his aides and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some deeply disreputable friends given he openly invited them to royal residences.
• Monetary Excess: If the household did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Trips were printed in official documents: helicopter transfers from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of regular transport, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

A Life of Privilege

Then there was the arrogance which demanded subservience when he appeared in a space or the extreme obsession about his royal titles used on his official documents in messages to his personal acquaintances.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who unaccountably pampered him, was still surviving. The Queen did at least remove him of official roles and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his ill-fated and, it is now clear, untruthful public statement six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last fortnight that events progressed rapidly, following the release of biographical works giving more troubling particulars of his behavior and that of his companions.

More information have again exposed Andrew's belief that he could get away with being untruthful about his relationship with a disgraced individual.

Society (and the journalists) were far more perceptive of the royals. There was no one of any consequence to support him, a result of all those years of hubris.

Royal Worries

The more intelligent family members recognized that. The one imperative is to hand down the monarchy, if not as before at least complete and unblemished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to overcome the image of earlier rulers, proving they are beneficial, dutiful and responsive to their citizens.

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

Consequences

Eventually, the notoriously indecisive king was prodded additional. There was little choice. The institution had surrendered command of the narrative.

Now it is the loss of titles and the ongoing and permanent social disgrace that will afflict Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Lowered to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The initial royal to forfeit his designations in recent history
• Naval Career: Especially hurtful given his service in the conflict

He continues to be a counsellor of state, theoretically able to act for the monarch, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but none of these will actually come to pass.

Coming Developments

Do individuals he meets still show respect to him? Will they still slip up and call him Prince? Might they say Andrew,

Of course, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the sovereign's extensive grounds at a monarchical property.

In that place, he will be provided by the king with one of the estate properties and given some sort of financial support.

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

Outstanding Concerns

Matters remain unresolved. There are still files in the custody of overseas authorities to be made public.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Might parliament seek further action
• Financial Investigation: Or examine the waste of taxpayer funds
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a criminal probe into his actions

Maybe for the time being the harm to the monarchy to the crown is contained. The message from the royal household was evidently that the removal of titles was what the king, and particularly other senior royals, wanted.

Changed Stance

No more deception that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the concise statement showed plainly that the monarchy were aligning with the accuser's version of incidents.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they finally showed consideration for the affected individuals: "The measures are deemed necessary, regardless of the reality that he continues to deny the accusations against him."

In the end it is entitlement, selfishness and laziness that will destroy the institution. In his foolishness, personal excess and corruption, Andrew seems never to have understood that reality.