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The saga started with a isolated photograph, arguably the most impactful ever taken of a member of the monarchy.

Present was the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a teenage girl, while an associate beamed suggestively in the backdrop.

Without that image, taken at a social event in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the allegations of a young woman who declared she was transported across the sea and compelled to have brief intimate contact with a prince of the monarchy?

An odd, revealing gesture by someone who had overtly claimed to have never been aware of her, claimed he could no have had sex with her, and yet paid millions of monarchical money to resolve a protracted legal case.

Over a Decade of Scandal

Against this backdrop, discussions of the royal family acting firmly to cut Andrew off are misguided. This affair has endured for the majority of 15 years since that photograph, and an additional image of Andrew strolling congenially with a disgraced financier surfaced.

• Arrogance: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his mother and father, know that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his employees and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some highly questionable associates given he unabashedly welcomed them to estates.
• Monetary Excess: If the household did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with public money.

Trips were documented in official documents: 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 comfort of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the entitlement which demanded deference when he appeared in a space or the supreme awareness about his honorifics used on his letterheads in letters to his associates.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least strip him of official roles and military positions in the consequence of his disastrous and, as revealed, mendacious television interview six years ago.

Recent Developments

Merely in the last 14 days that events progressed rapidly, following the release of biographical works giving more troubling details of his behavior and that of his associates.

Further disclosures have again exposed Andrew's belief that he could get away with deceiving about his contact with a convicted criminal.

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

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser family members recognized that. The one imperative is to pass on the monarchy, if not as heretofore at least whole and unblemished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the image of previous monarchs, proving they are valuable, dutiful and responsive to their people.

His actions endangered all that in jeopardy in an era when respect and discretion is no longer sufficient.

Aftermath

Eventually, the well-known indecisive monarch was prodded more. There was no other option. The palace had relinquished authority of the account.

Presently the stripping of designations and the continued and lifetime personal shame that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Demotion: Reduced to just a commoner
• Past Example: The primary royal to lose his titles in contemporary era
• Naval Career: Notably hurtful given his duty in the engagement

He remains a counsellor of state, in principle able to stand in for the sovereign, and he is still in the succession to the monarchy, but none of these will ever come to pass.

What Lies Ahead

Will people he meets still acknowledge him? Will they still slip up and call him Sir? Might they say Mr,

Of course, he is not withdrawing to a common area, but to the monarchy's large estate at Sandringham.

In that place, he will be provided by the monarch with one of the estate properties and given some type of private allowance.

This differs from his former home, where he paid a token payment for more than 20 years, and Norfolk 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 custody of American legislators to be disclosed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Will lawmakers request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or scrutinize the improper use of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Possibly for the present the harm to the monarchy to the institution is restricted. The statement from the royal household was clearly that the revocation of designations was what the king, and especially other senior royals, sought.

Changed Stance

An end to deception that Andrew was acting willingly. And, notably, the concise announcement showed clearly that the institution were supporting the victim's version of incidents.

Furthermore, for the initial instance they eventually showed concern for the victims: "The measures are judged required, regardless of the fact that he persists in refuting the claims against him."

In the end it is entitlement, self-interest and indolence that will kill the monarchy. In his stupidity, personal excess and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that reality.