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This episode commenced with a single photograph, perhaps the most significant ever captured of a member of the monarchy.

In the frame appeared the Baron Killyleagh, with his arm around a female youth, while a companion beamed knowingly in the backdrop.

Lacking that image, captured at a party in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a young woman who stated she was trafficked across the sea and forced to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a prince of the monarchy?

An odd, revealing gesture by someone who had overtly stated to have never heard of her, asserted he could never have had sex with her, and yet provided millions of monarchical resources to avert a long-delayed legal case.

Years of Disgrace

In this context, discussions of the royal family acting decisively to cut Andrew off are inaccurate. This affair has endured for the majority of 15 years since that image, and another snapshot of Andrew walking amiably with a disgraced financier came to light.

• Hubris: To what extent did his family members, perhaps even his parents, know that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his staff and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he openly welcomed them to estates.
• Financial Extravagance: If the monarchy did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with taxpayer funds.

Trips were documented in royal annual reports: private aircraft transfers from the royal residence to a golf course and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

World of Deference

Additionally the presumption which demanded respect when he appeared in a space or the supreme consciousness about his royal titles used on his official documents in messages to his friends.

He avoided accountability while his mother, who strangely indulged him, was still alive. The Queen did at least remove him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the wake of his disastrous and, as revealed, untruthful media appearance six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last fortnight that events progressed rapidly, following the publication of accounts giving more disturbing details of his conduct and that of his associates.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could escape lying about his relationship with a notorious figure.

Society (and the press) were far more perceptive of the royals. There was no one of any consequence to support him, a result of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser royals recognized that. The one imperative is to hand down the institution, if not as previously at least intact and unstained.

For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the image of previous monarchs, demonstrating they are valuable, accountable and responsive to their people.

Andrew was putting all that in jeopardy in an age when deference and secrecy is no longer enough.

Aftermath

Ultimately, the famously uncertain sovereign was pushed additional. There was no other option. The royal household had lost control of the narrative.

Currently the removal of titles and the ongoing and lifetime social disgrace that will afflict Andrew the most.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just a private citizen
• Past Example: The initial member to lose his designations in recent history
• Naval Career: Especially painful given his service in the Falklands war

He continues to be a constitutional officer, theoretically able to substitute for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but none of these will actually occur.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he encounters still acknowledge him? Will they still slip up and call him Your Highness? Might they say Sir,

Certainly, he is not retiring to suburbia, but to the monarchy's vast grounds at Sandringham.

There, he will be provided by the king with one of the estate properties and given some sort of personal stipend.

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

Pending Matters

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

• Governmental Scrutiny: Will legislators request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or investigate the improper use of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Possibly for the present the harm to the monarchy to the institution is limited. The message from the royal household was clearly that the stripping of honorifics was what the sovereign, and notably other senior royals, desired.

Changed Stance

The cessation of deception that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the short announcement showed clearly that the monarchy were supporting the victim's account of events.

Furthermore, for the initial instance they eventually showed consideration for the survivors: "These actions are considered essential, notwithstanding the truth that he continues to deny the allegations against him."

Finally it is arrogance, selfishness and laziness that will undermine the crown. In his foolishness, self-gratification and venality, Andrew appears never to have learned that truth.