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It all began with a single photograph, arguably the most significant ever captured of a member of the monarchy.

Present was the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a young woman, while an associate grinned conspiratorially in the background.

Lacking that image, captured at a gathering in 2001, few would have credited the claims of a teenager who stated she was trafficked across the Atlantic and compelled to have cursory relations with a prince of the royal bloodline?

A curious, telling move by someone who had overtly stated to have no heard of her, claimed he could no have had intimate contact with her, and yet paid a large amount of family funds to settle a drawn-out court action.

Years of Scandal

Against this backdrop, discussions of the monarchy acting swiftly to cut Andrew off are wide of the mark. This controversy has continued for the better part of 15 years since that picture, and an additional photo of Andrew strolling pleasantly with a notorious individual surfaced.

• Hubris: How long did his brothers and sisters, perhaps even his relatives, know that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Questionable Associations: They must have realized, if his aides and the police were fulfilling their roles, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he unabashedly welcomed them to palaces.
• Monetary Excess: If the family did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with public money.

Trips were printed in public records: helicopter transfers from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for dining, exclusive air travel instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the entitlement which expected deference when he entered a space or the profound consciousness about his royal titles used on his correspondence in communication to his associates.

He could get away with it while his parent, who inexplicably pampered him, was still living. The monarch did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the consequence of his disastrous and, it is now clear, deceptive media appearance six years ago.

Recent Developments

It was only in the last two weeks that events sped up, following the issuance of books giving more troubling particulars of his behavior and that of his connections.

More information have again exposed Andrew's belief that he could avoid being untruthful about his contact with a convicted criminal.

People (and the journalists) were far ahead of the royal family. There was no one of any importance to support him, a consequence of all those years of presumption.

Institutional Fears

The wiser family members realized that. The one imperative is to transfer the crown, if not as before at least complete and untarnished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to undo the reputation of earlier rulers, proving they are beneficial, responsible and responsive to their citizens.

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

The Fallout

Finally, the notoriously indecisive monarch was pushed further. There was no alternative. The institution had relinquished authority of the account.

Presently the loss of honorifics and the continued and permanent public humiliation that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just a private citizen
• Historical Precedent: The primary monarch to forfeit his designations in recent history
• Armed Forces: Particularly painful given his service in the Falklands war

He is still a counsellor of state, on paper able to act for the sovereign, and he is still in the succession to the monarchy, but not any of these will ever happen.

Coming Developments

Do individuals he comes across still defer to him? Could they still forget themselves and call him Prince? Will they even say Andrew,

Of course, he is not withdrawing to suburbia, but to the monarchy's large estate at a royal residence.

There, he will be supplied by the king with one of the estate properties and given some sort of private allowance.

This differs from his prior accommodation, where he paid a minimal lease 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 documents in the custody of overseas authorities to be revealed.

• Political Pressure: Might lawmakers request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or examine the misuse of public money
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Possibly for the time being the harm to the monarchy to the institution is restricted. The message from the royal household was clearly that the removal of honorifics was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior family members, wanted.

Changed Stance

An end to deception that Andrew was acting willingly. And, significantly, the short statement showed evidently that the institution were aligning with the complainant's version of events.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they ultimately showed consideration for the affected individuals: "The censures are judged required, despite the fact that he maintains his innocence of the allegations against him."

Ultimately it is arrogance, self-seeking and inactivity that will kill the monarchy. In his folly, self-indulgence and greed, Andrew seems never to have grasped that reality.