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This episode commenced with a single photograph, possibly the most impactful ever taken of a individual from the royal household.

Present was the Duke of York, arm-in-arm a female youth, while a companion beamed knowingly in the background.

Absent that photograph, shot at a social event in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the assertions of a young woman who stated she was transported across the Atlantic and forced to have cursory sexual encounters with a prince of the monarchy?

An odd, indicative gesture by someone who had openly claimed to have never known about her, said he could no have had relations with her, and yet paid millions of family funds to resolve a protracted court action.

A Long Period of Controversy

In this context, talk of the royal family acting swiftly to cut Andrew off are misguided. This affair has continued for the majority of 15 years since that image, and a further image of Andrew strolling amiably with a convicted sex offender emerged.

• Self-importance: How long did his brothers and sisters, maybe even his relatives, realize that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have known, if his staff and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some highly questionable associates given he openly welcomed them to estates.
• Monetary Excess: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Journeys were documented in royal annual reports: helicopter transfers from the palace to a golf course and back again in time for midday meal, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the comfort of "Airmiles Andy".

World of Deference

Then there was the presumption which expected subservience when he appeared in a room or the extreme obsession about his royal titles used on his letterheads in messages to his personal acquaintances.

He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who inexplicably spoiled him, was still surviving. The Queen did at least remove him of public duties and honorary colonelcies in the consequence of his ill-fated and, it is now clear, deceptive public statement six years ago.

Latest Events

It was only in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the publication of biographical works giving more troubling details of his behavior and that of his connections.

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

Society (and the media) were far more perceptive of the royal family. There was nobody of any importance to speak up for him, a outcome of all those years of arrogance.

Institutional Fears

The wiser monarchical figures understood that. The one imperative is to hand down the monarchy, if not as before at least intact and unstained.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of previous monarchs, showing they are beneficial, accountable and attentive to their citizens.

He was placing all that in danger in an age when respect and privacy is no longer enough.

Consequences

Eventually, the famously indecisive monarch was prodded more. There was no alternative. The institution had lost control of the account.

Presently the removal of honorifics and the continued and life-long personal shame that will afflict Andrew most deeply.

• Downgrading: Demoted to just a private citizen
• Historical Precedent: The initial royal to forfeit his designations in contemporary era
• Military Service: Especially hurtful given his duty in the conflict

He remains a counsellor of state, on paper able to act for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the throne, but not any of these will actually happen.

Future Prospects

Can persons he encounters still defer to him? Could they still slip up and call him Sir? Would they say Mr,

Of course, he is not withdrawing to suburbia, but to the monarchy's large property at a monarchical property.

In that place, he will be provided by the monarch with one of the royal residences and given some sort of financial support.

This differs from his prior accommodation, where he paid a nominal rent for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit far, but even so it may not be far enough.

Unresolved Issues

Matters remain unresolved. There are still files in the hands of American legislators to be revealed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Could parliament demand more
• Fiscal Review: Or investigate the improper use of taxpayer funds
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Perhaps for the moment the reputational impact to the monarchy is contained. The narrative from the royal household was clearly that the stripping of designations was what the monarch, and particularly other senior monarchical figures, desired.

A Shift in Position

An end to illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, remarkably, the short announcement showed clearly that the institution were supporting the victim's account of events.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they finally showed concern for the victims: "The censures are judged required, notwithstanding the reality that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."

In the end it is arrogance, selfishness and laziness that will kill the crown. In his folly, self-indulgence and greed, Andrew seems never to have learned that reality.