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This episode commenced with a solitary photograph, arguably the most significant ever snapped of a member of the monarchy.

Present was the Baron Killyleagh, arm-in-arm a female youth, while an associate grinned conspiratorially in the rear.

Without that image, captured at a party in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a teenager who declared she was moved across the sea and compelled to have brief sexual encounters with a prince of the royal bloodline?

An odd, revealing move by someone who had publicly stated to have never known about her, asserted he could never have had intimate contact with her, and yet paid millions of his mother's resources to settle a protracted lawsuit.

A Long Period of Scandal

Considering this, discussions of the monarchy acting decisively to distance themselves from Andrew are wide of the mark. This controversy has continued for the better part of 15 years since that photograph, and an additional snapshot of Andrew ambling pleasantly with a disgraced financier came to light.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his siblings, maybe even his relatives, realize that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his aides and the law enforcement were performing their duties, that he had some highly questionable friends given he publicly invited them to estates.
• Monetary Excess: If the family did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Journeys were printed in official documents: chopper flights from the estate to a country club and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of commercial flights, all for the comfort of "the travel enthusiast".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the arrogance which expected deference when he appeared in a space or the extreme consciousness about his designations used on his correspondence in communication to his associates.

He could get away with it while his parent, who unaccountably indulged him, was still alive. The Queen did at least revoke him of public duties and honorary colonelcies in the consequence of his disastrous and, as revealed, untruthful media appearance six years ago.

Latest Events

Merely in the last fortnight that events accelerated, following the issuance of biographical works giving more grim information of his actions and that of his connections.

More information have again revealed Andrew's belief that he could avoid deceiving about his interaction with a convicted criminal.

People (and the journalists) were far ahead of the royals. There was not a single person of any consequence to support him, a result of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The more astute family members recognized that. The key objective is to hand down the monarchy, if not as previously at least whole and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of earlier rulers, proving they are valuable, dutiful and attentive to their subjects.

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

Aftermath

Finally, the notoriously hesitant monarch was prodded additional. There was little choice. The institution had relinquished authority of the account.

Now it is the removal of titles and the ongoing and lifetime public humiliation that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Demotion: Demoted to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Prior Instance: The primary member to forfeit his titles in contemporary era
• Armed Forces: Notably stinging given his role in the conflict

He is still a royal advisor, theoretically able to substitute for the king, and he is still eighth in line to the crown, but neither of these will actually come to pass.

What Lies Ahead

Will people he meets still acknowledge him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Your Highness? Might they say Sir,

Of course, he is not retiring to an ordinary town, but to the sovereign's extensive estate at a royal residence.

There, he will be supplied by the monarch with one of the estate properties and given some sort of financial support.

This is not his previous residence, where he paid a token payment for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit distant, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Outstanding Concerns

This is not over. There are still files in the hands of overseas authorities to be disclosed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Might lawmakers demand more
• Financial Investigation: Or examine the misuse of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a police investigation into his conduct

Possibly for the moment the institutional damage to the institution is restricted. The message from the institution was plainly that the revocation of titles was what the king, and especially other senior family members, sought.

Altered Approach

The cessation of deception that Andrew was acting willingly. And, notably, the short communication showed plainly that the institution were aligning with the accuser's version of occurrences.

Furthermore, for the first time they ultimately showed consideration for the affected individuals: "These actions are considered essential, regardless of the truth that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."

In the end it is entitlement, selfishness and indolence that will undermine the crown. In his foolishness, personal excess and corruption, Andrew gives the impression never to have grasped that reality.