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The saga started with a isolated photograph, arguably the most consequential ever captured of a royal family member.

In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a female youth, while a companion smiled knowingly in the background.

Without that image, taken at a gathering in 2001, few would have credited the assertions of a adolescent who declared she was moved across the sea and obliged to have perfunctory intimate contact with a individual of the monarchy?

A strange, indicative gesture by someone who had openly claimed to have not been aware of her, asserted he could no have had intimate contact with her, and yet handed over millions of his mother's money to resolve a protracted legal case.

Over a Decade of Disgrace

In this context, conversations of the monarchy acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This controversy has persisted for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and an additional image of Andrew walking congenially with a convicted sex offender emerged.

• Self-importance: For what duration did his siblings, perhaps even his relatives, understand that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his employees and the police were fulfilling their roles, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he openly invited them to palaces.
• Financial Extravagance: If the household did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with state resources.

Travel were listed in royal annual reports: chopper transfers from the palace to a golf course and back again in time for dining, exclusive air travel instead of commercial flights, all for the convenience of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the presumption which required deference when he entered a space or the profound awareness about his royal titles used on his correspondence in messages to his associates.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who unaccountably pampered him, was still living. The monarch did at least remove him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his catastrophic and, it is now clear, mendacious television interview six years ago.

Recent Developments

Just in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the issuance of accounts giving more grim particulars of his actions and that of his associates.

Additional revelations have again highlighted Andrew's assumption that he could escape being untruthful about his relationship with a disgraced individual.

People (and the journalists) were far ahead of the royal family. There was not a single person of any consequence to speak up for him, a outcome of all those years of presumption.

Institutional Fears

The more astute monarchical figures understood that. The one imperative is to pass on the institution, if not as heretofore at least intact and unblemished.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to overcome the image of past sovereigns, proving they are useful, dutiful and reactive to their subjects.

Andrew was putting all that in danger in an age when respect and privacy is no longer sufficient.

Consequences

Ultimately, the famously indecisive king was pressured more. There was no other option. The institution had lost control of the account.

Currently the loss of titles and the persistent and life-long social disgrace that will hurt Andrew the most.

• Demotion: Lowered to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The primary royal to forfeit his honorifics in modern times
• Naval Career: Notably stinging given his role in the engagement

He continues to be a constitutional officer, theoretically able to substitute for the sovereign, and he is still in the succession to the monarchy, but none of these will ever happen.

What Lies Ahead

Will people he encounters still show respect to him? Might they still slip up and call him Prince? Will they even say Andrew,

Of course, he is not moving to a common area, but to the monarchy's vast estate at a royal residence.

At that location, he will be furnished by the sovereign with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of personal stipend.

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

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still files in the hands of US Congress to be revealed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Might legislators demand more
• Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the improper use of taxpayer funds
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a police investigation into his actions

Perhaps for the time being the harm to the monarchy to the monarchy is limited. The message from the palace was clearly that the revocation of honorifics was what the monarch, and particularly other senior family members, sought.

A Shift in Position

An end to deception that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the brief statement showed clearly that the institution were siding with the accuser's account of incidents.

Furthermore, for the initial instance they ultimately showed consideration for the survivors: "These actions are deemed necessary, regardless of the truth that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."

In the end it is presumption, selfishness and indolence that will kill the institution. In his stupidity, personal excess and corruption, Andrew gives the impression never to have learned that lesson.