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It all began with a solitary photograph, arguably the most consequential ever snapped of a member of the monarchy.

There stood the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a teenage girl, while another individual smiled conspiratorially in the background.

Without that snapshot, captured at a social event in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a adolescent who stated she was transported across the Atlantic and compelled to have perfunctory relations with a member of the royal bloodline?

An odd, revealing gesture by someone who had publicly stated to have never been aware of her, claimed he could no have had relations with her, and yet provided a substantial sum of his mother's resources to resolve a protracted lawsuit.

Over a Decade of Controversy

In this context, talk of the monarchy acting swiftly to sever ties with Andrew are misguided. This affair has continued for the better part of 15 years since that photograph, and a further image of Andrew strolling amiably with a convicted sex offender emerged.

• Self-importance: How long did his siblings, perhaps even his parents, realize that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have known, if his staff and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he openly invited them to palaces.
• Monetary Excess: If the family did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with public money.

Travel were documented in royal annual reports: chopper travel from the royal residence to a golf course and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

Existence of Entitlement

Then there was the arrogance which demanded respect when he walked into a space or the extreme obsession about his designations used on his official documents in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He avoided accountability while his matriarch, who inexplicably indulged him, was still living. The sovereign did at least strip him of official roles and military positions in the wake of his catastrophic and, we now know, untruthful public statement six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the release of books giving more grim particulars of his actions and that of his companions.

More information have again revealed Andrew's thinking that he could get away with deceiving about his relationship with a convicted criminal.

Society (and the media) were far in advance of the monarchy. There was not a single person of any significance to support him, a result of all those years of arrogance.

Monarchical Concerns

The more intelligent monarchical figures realized that. The key objective is to hand down the monarchy, if not as before at least complete and unblemished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to overcome the image of earlier rulers, showing they are beneficial, responsible and attentive to their people.

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

The Fallout

Ultimately, the well-known indecisive monarch was pressured further. There was no alternative. The institution had surrendered command of the account.

Now it is the loss of honorifics and the persistent and lifetime social disgrace that will pain Andrew the most.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Prior Instance: The first monarch to forfeit his honorifics in contemporary era
• Armed Forces: Particularly hurtful given his duty in the engagement

He continues to be a constitutional officer, on paper able to substitute for the sovereign, and he is still eighth in line to the crown, but none of these will ever occur.

What Lies Ahead

Will people he encounters still acknowledge him? Could they still slip up and call him Prince? Would they say Andrew,

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

At that location, he will be supplied by the sovereign with one of the estate properties and given some sort of personal stipend.

This is not his previous residence, where he paid a nominal payment for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit remote, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Pending Matters

Matters remain unresolved. There are still records in the custody of American legislators to be disclosed.

• Political Pressure: Might parliament demand more
• Fiscal Review: Or examine the improper use of taxpayer funds
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Maybe for the time being the harm to the monarchy to the crown is limited. The statement from the royal household was clearly that the removal of titles was what the king, and especially other senior monarchical figures, sought.

Altered Approach

The cessation of deception that Andrew was acting willingly. And, significantly, the brief announcement showed plainly that the institution were siding with the complainant's version of events.

Additionally, for the initial instance they ultimately showed concern for the survivors: "The censures are considered essential, regardless of the truth that he persists in refuting the accusations against him."

Finally it is arrogance, self-interest and indolence that will destroy the monarchy. In his foolishness, self-gratification and greed, Andrew appears never to have understood that lesson.