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

Present was the Baron Killyleagh, with his arm around a female youth, while another individual beamed conspiratorially in the backdrop.

Absent that snapshot, shot at a social event in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the assertions of a adolescent who declared she was transported across the ocean and compelled to have brief intimate contact with a individual of the monarchy?

A curious, telling action by someone who had publicly asserted to have never known about her, asserted he could no have had relations with her, and yet paid millions of family funds to resolve a long-delayed legal case.

Years of Disgrace

Considering this, talk of the monarchy acting swiftly to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This affair has continued for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and an additional image of Andrew strolling congenially with a convicted sex offender came to light.

• Hubris: How long did his brothers and sisters, perhaps even his parents, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Questionable Associations: They must have realized, if his employees and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he publicly welcomed them to estates.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with taxpayer funds.

Trips were documented in royal annual reports: private aircraft flights from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of commercial flights, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

A Life of Privilege

Then there was the arrogance which expected deference when he walked into a space or the profound consciousness about his honorifics used on his official documents in letters to his friends.

He could get away with it while his matriarch, who inexplicably spoiled him, was still living. The Queen did at least remove him of official roles and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his disastrous and, as revealed, untruthful media appearance six years ago.

Recent Developments

Merely in the last two weeks that events accelerated, following the issuance of biographical works giving more disturbing particulars of his actions and that of his connections.

Additional revelations have again highlighted Andrew's assumption that he could escape deceiving about his interaction with a notorious figure.

Society (and the media) were far ahead of the royal family. There was nobody of any importance to defend him, a outcome of all those years of arrogance.

Institutional Fears

The more astute monarchical figures recognized that. The key objective is to hand down the crown, if not as heretofore at least intact and unblemished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to undo the legacy of previous monarchs, proving they are valuable, accountable and attentive to their people.

Andrew was putting all that in jeopardy in an time when submission and privacy is no longer sufficient.

Aftermath

Finally, the well-known indecisive sovereign was prodded additional. There was little choice. The royal household had surrendered command of the story.

Currently the removal of titles and the persistent and permanent social disgrace that will pain Andrew the most.

• Downgrading: Lowered to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The initial monarch to forfeit his honorifics in contemporary era
• Armed Forces: Particularly painful given his role in the engagement

He remains a royal advisor, in principle able to substitute for the king, and he is still in the lineage to the monarchy, but none of these will actually come to pass.

Future Prospects

Can persons he meets still show respect to him? Will they still make mistakes and call him Sir? Might they say Andrew,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the sovereign's large estate at Sandringham.

In that place, he will be provided by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some type of financial support.

This is not his former home, where he paid a minimal lease for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit remote, but even so it may not be far enough.

Outstanding Concerns

This is not over. There are still files in the custody of US Congress to be made public.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Might parliament request additional information
• Monetary Probe: Or investigate the improper use of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his actions

Perhaps for the time being the institutional damage to the institution is contained. The narrative from the palace was clearly that the removal of designations was what the monarch, and especially other senior monarchical figures, desired.

A Shift in Position

No more illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the concise announcement showed clearly that the monarchy were siding with the complainant's version of events.

Additionally, for the initial instance they eventually showed regard for the survivors: "The measures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the truth that he maintains his innocence of the allegations against him."

Ultimately it is presumption, selfishness and inactivity that will undermine the monarchy. In his folly, personal excess and greed, Andrew gives the impression never to have grasped that truth.