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

Present was the Earl of Inverness, with his arm around a female youth, while an associate smiled suggestively in the rear.

Absent that photograph, shot at a social event in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a young woman who declared she was trafficked across the ocean and forced to have cursory relations with a prince of the royal family?

A strange, telling move by someone who had openly claimed to have never known about her, claimed he could never have had sex with her, and yet provided a large amount of his mother's resources to settle a long-delayed lawsuit.

Years of Disgrace

In this context, discussions of the royals acting swiftly to distance themselves from Andrew are misguided. This controversy has persisted for the largest portion of 15 years since that picture, and a further image of Andrew walking pleasantly with a disgraced financier surfaced.

• Hubris: To what extent did his siblings, perhaps even his parents, understand that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have known, if his aides and the law enforcement were performing their duties, that he had some highly questionable friends given he openly welcomed them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the household did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Journeys were listed in royal annual reports: chopper transfers from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Additionally the presumption which expected subservience when he entered a space or the profound consciousness about his designations used on his correspondence in messages to his friends.

He avoided accountability while his matriarch, who unaccountably pampered him, was still living. The monarch did at least remove him of public duties and honorary colonelcies in the consequence of his ill-fated and, it is now clear, deceptive media appearance six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last two weeks that events sped up, following the release of biographical works giving more grim information of his actions and that of his connections.

More information have again revealed Andrew's assumption that he could escape deceiving about his interaction with a disgraced individual.

People (and the press) were far more perceptive of the royals. There was no one of any consequence to defend him, a result of all those years of arrogance.

Royal Worries

The more intelligent monarchical figures recognized that. The primary concern is to pass on the institution, if not as heretofore at least intact and unblemished.

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

His actions endangered all that in peril in an time when deference and discretion is no longer adequate.

Consequences

Eventually, the well-known uncertain king was prodded further. There was little choice. The royal household had lost control of the narrative.

Now it is the loss of designations and the ongoing and life-long social disgrace that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Reduction: Lowered to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Past Example: The initial royal to lose his designations in contemporary era
• Armed Forces: Particularly stinging given his role in the engagement

He continues to be a royal advisor, on paper able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still in the lineage to the monarchy, but none of these will ever occur.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he encounters still acknowledge him? Will they still forget themselves and call him Your Highness? Might they say Sir,

Naturally, he is not moving to a common area, but to the monarchy's vast property at a monarchical property.

At that location, he will be supplied by the king with one of the estate properties and given some form of financial support.

This is not his former home, where he paid a minimal rent for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit far, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Pending Matters

Matters remain unresolved. There are still records in the hands of overseas authorities to be revealed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Could lawmakers request additional information
• Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the waste of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a police investigation into his behavior

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

Altered Approach

The cessation of pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the short announcement showed plainly that the institution were aligning with the victim's account of events.

Furthermore, for the premiere occasion they ultimately showed consideration for the survivors: "The measures are judged required, despite the fact that he persists in refuting the allegations against him."

Ultimately it is presumption, self-interest and indolence that will kill the crown. In his foolishness, self-gratification and greed, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that truth.