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

There stood the Earl of Inverness, with his arm around a young woman, while an associate grinned conspiratorially in the background.

Absent that photograph, shot at a party in 2001, who would have believed the claims of a young woman who declared she was moved across the ocean and forced to have brief relations with a prince of the royal bloodline?

A curious, telling move by someone who had overtly stated to have not heard of her, said he could never have had intimate contact with her, and yet handed over a substantial sum of his mother's resources to resolve a drawn-out lawsuit.

Years of Disgrace

In this context, talk of the royal family acting swiftly to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This scandal has continued for the majority of 15 years since that photograph, and another snapshot of Andrew walking pleasantly with a convicted sex offender surfaced.

• Arrogance: How long did his family members, maybe even his relatives, understand that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Problematic Connections: They must have known, if his employees and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he openly welcomed them to estates.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the family did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Journeys were printed in public records: chopper transfers from the palace to a country club and back again in time for lunch, exclusive air travel instead of commercial flights, all for the comfort of "the travel enthusiast".

A Life of Privilege

Furthermore the presumption which expected respect when he appeared in a space or the extreme awareness about his honorifics used on his letterheads in communication to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still alive. The monarch did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the wake of his catastrophic and, it is now clear, mendacious television interview six years ago.

Recent Developments

Just in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the publication of accounts giving more troubling details of his actions and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again revealed Andrew's assumption that he could escape being untruthful about his relationship with a convicted criminal.

People (and the press) were far more perceptive of the royals. There was no one of any importance to speak up for him, a result of all those years of arrogance.

Monarchical Concerns

The more astute royals recognized that. The primary concern is to pass on the crown, if not as previously at least intact and unstained.

For generations the last 190 years trying to overcome the reputation of past sovereigns, proving they are useful, accountable and reactive to their people.

Andrew was putting all that in danger in an era when deference and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

The Fallout

Ultimately, the notoriously hesitant sovereign was pushed additional. There was no alternative. The institution had surrendered command of the story.

Presently the stripping of titles and the continued and permanent social disgrace that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Demotion: Lowered to just a private citizen
• Historical Precedent: The first monarch to surrender his designations in recent history
• Armed Forces: Especially hurtful given his service in the engagement

He continues to be a counsellor of state, on paper able to stand in for the sovereign, and he is still in the lineage to the crown, but neither of these will truly happen.

Future Prospects

Can persons he meets still defer to him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Sir? Will they even say Mr,

Naturally, he is not moving to suburbia, but to the sovereign's large property at a royal residence.

In that place, he will be provided by the king with one of the estate properties and given some form of financial support.

It is not his former home, where he paid a minimal payment for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit distant, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still files in the possession of US Congress to be made public.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Could lawmakers seek further action
• Financial Investigation: Or examine the improper use of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a police investigation into his behavior

Possibly for the time being the harm to the monarchy to the crown is limited. The message from the royal household was plainly that the revocation of designations was what the sovereign, and notably other senior family members, wanted.

Altered Approach

No more illusion that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the short communication showed clearly that the monarchy were aligning with the complainant's narrative of events.

Additionally, for the first time they ultimately showed concern for the survivors: "The censures are considered essential, notwithstanding the truth that he persists in refuting the claims against him."

In the end it is entitlement, self-seeking and laziness that will destroy the monarchy. In his folly, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that lesson.