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It all began with a single photograph, arguably the most consequential ever captured of a individual from the royal household.

Present was the Earl of Inverness, with his arm around a young woman, while an associate smiled suggestively in the rear.

Without that snapshot, shot at a gathering in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the allegations of a adolescent who stated she was trafficked across the sea and forced to have brief relations with a member of the royal family?

An odd, indicative gesture by someone who had overtly asserted to have never heard of her, said he could no have had sex with her, and yet provided a large amount of his mother's money to resolve a long-delayed lawsuit.

Over a Decade of Scandal

Against this backdrop, conversations of the monarchy acting decisively to cut Andrew off are misguided. This affair has continued for the majority of 15 years since that picture, and an additional snapshot of Andrew strolling amiably with a convicted sex offender came to light.

• Hubris: How long did his family members, maybe even his relatives, realize that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have known, if his employees and the law enforcement were performing their duties, that he had some highly questionable companions given he openly hosted them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the household did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with public money.

Journeys were printed in public records: helicopter travel from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "the travel enthusiast".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the presumption which expected deference when he entered a area or the extreme consciousness about his honorifics used on his letterheads in messages to his associates.

He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who strangely pampered him, was still surviving. The sovereign did at least strip him of royal responsibilities and honorary colonelcies in the wake of his ill-fated and, we now know, deceptive media appearance six years ago.

Recent Developments

It was only in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the release of accounts giving more disturbing particulars of his conduct and that of his companions.

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

The public (and the press) were far in advance of the monarchy. There was nobody of any significance to support him, a outcome of all those years of arrogance.

Royal Worries

The more astute family members recognized that. The key objective is to hand down the institution, if not as before at least intact and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of previous monarchs, showing they are valuable, responsible and reactive to their citizens.

Andrew was putting all that in danger in an time when respect and discretion is no longer adequate.

The Fallout

Ultimately, the notoriously indecisive monarch was pushed more. There was no alternative. The royal household had surrendered command of the account.

Presently the loss of titles and the continued and life-long personal shame that will afflict Andrew the most.

• Demotion: Lowered to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Past Example: The initial member to lose his designations in contemporary era
• Military Service: Particularly hurtful given his service in the conflict

He is still a constitutional officer, on paper able to act for the king, and he is still in the succession to the monarchy, but not any of these will truly happen.

Coming Developments

Do individuals he meets still defer to him? Could they still slip up and call him Sir? Would they say Andrew,

Certainly, he is not moving to suburbia, but to the monarchy's extensive property at Sandringham.

There, he will be supplied by the king with one of the royal residences and given some form of personal stipend.

This is not his previous residence, where he paid a minimal payment for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit remote, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Outstanding Concerns

Matters remain unresolved. There are still files in the hands of US Congress to be revealed.

• Political Pressure: Will parliament demand more
• Monetary Probe: Or investigate the waste of taxpayer funds
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a police investigation into his behavior

Perhaps for the time being the harm to the monarchy to the crown is restricted. The narrative from the institution was evidently that the stripping of designations was what the king, and notably other senior monarchical figures, desired.

Changed Stance

No more deception that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the concise statement showed plainly that the institution were siding with the accuser's version of events.

Additionally, for the initial instance they finally showed concern for the victims: "The measures are considered essential, regardless of the reality that he persists in refuting the claims against him."

Finally it is presumption, selfishness and laziness that will destroy the crown. In his foolishness, self-indulgence and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have learned that reality.