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This episode commenced with a solitary photograph, possibly the most impactful ever taken of a individual from the royal household.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, standing closely beside a young woman, while a companion beamed knowingly in the rear.

Lacking that snapshot, captured at a social event in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the claims of a young woman who said she was trafficked across the sea and compelled to have cursory sexual encounters with a member of the royal bloodline?

A curious, revealing action by someone who had publicly asserted to have not heard of her, said he could not have had intimate contact with her, and yet provided a substantial sum of monarchical resources to resolve a long-delayed legal case.

Over a Decade of Disgrace

In this context, discussions of the monarchy acting decisively to cut Andrew off are misguided. This controversy has continued for the largest portion of 15 years since that photograph, and another snapshot of Andrew strolling pleasantly with a convicted sex offender came to light.

• Arrogance: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, perhaps even his mother and father, realize that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Problematic Connections: They must have understood, if his staff and the police were performing their duties, that he had some highly questionable associates given he openly invited them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the family did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his extravagance with taxpayer funds.

Journeys were listed in royal annual reports: private aircraft travel from the palace to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, chartered planes instead of commercial flights, all for the convenience of "the frequent flyer".

World of Deference

Furthermore the entitlement which required subservience when he entered a space or the supreme consciousness about his honorifics used on his correspondence in communication to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least revoke him of official roles and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his catastrophic and, we now know, deceptive public statement six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last two weeks that events sped up, following the publication of accounts giving more troubling information of his conduct and that of his companions.

Further disclosures have again revealed Andrew's thinking that he could avoid lying about his relationship with a disgraced individual.

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

Royal Worries

The more intelligent royals realized that. The primary concern is to transfer the institution, if not as previously at least complete and untarnished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the image of previous monarchs, demonstrating they are useful, dutiful and reactive to their citizens.

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

The Fallout

Eventually, the famously uncertain monarch was pressured additional. There was little choice. The royal household had surrendered command of the account.

Currently the removal of titles and the continued and lifetime social disgrace that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Demoted to just a private citizen
• Historical Precedent: The first royal to surrender his honorifics in modern times
• Military Service: Particularly hurtful given his role in the conflict

He is still a constitutional officer, on paper able to act for the sovereign, and he is still in the lineage to the throne, but none of these will truly come to pass.

Coming Developments

Do individuals he comes across still acknowledge him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Might they say Mr,

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

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

This is not his former home, where he paid a token lease for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit far, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Unresolved Issues

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

• Political Pressure: Could legislators seek further action
• Financial Investigation: Or investigate the misuse of public money
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Maybe for the present the institutional damage to the monarchy is contained. The message from the institution was clearly that the revocation of honorifics was what the king, and especially other senior royals, sought.

Changed Stance

An end to deception that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, remarkably, the concise communication showed plainly that the monarchy were siding with the complainant's account of occurrences.

Additionally, for the initial instance they finally showed consideration for the survivors: "These actions are deemed necessary, despite the fact that he continues to deny the accusations against him."

In the end it is arrogance, selfishness and indolence that will kill the institution. In his folly, self-gratification and greed, Andrew appears never to have grasped that truth.