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It all began with a isolated photograph, possibly the most significant ever taken of a member of the monarchy.

In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a young woman, while another individual beamed conspiratorially in the rear.

Lacking that photograph, shot at a gathering in 2001, who would have believed the allegations of a young woman who declared she was transported across the sea and obliged to have cursory relations with a prince of the royal family?

An odd, telling gesture by someone who had overtly stated to have never been aware of her, said he could never have had relations with her, and yet handed over millions of family funds to avert a protracted legal case.

Years of Disgrace

Against this backdrop, conversations of the monarchy acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This controversy has persisted for the largest portion of 15 years since that photograph, and another snapshot of Andrew ambling congenially with a notorious individual surfaced.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his family members, perhaps even his relatives, realize that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his staff and the law enforcement were performing their duties, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he publicly welcomed them to palaces.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his extravagance with public money.

Journeys were listed in public records: private aircraft transfers from the palace to a golf course and back again in time for dining, private flights instead of commercial flights, all for the comfort of "the frequent flyer".

A Life of Privilege

Then there was the entitlement which required respect when he walked into a room or the profound awareness about his honorifics used on his correspondence in letters to his personal acquaintances.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who strangely indulged him, was still surviving. The Queen did at least remove him of public duties and military positions in the wake of his catastrophic and, it is now clear, untruthful media appearance six years ago.

Latest Events

It was only in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the release of books giving more grim details of his conduct and that of his associates.

Additional revelations have again exposed Andrew's belief that he could avoid lying about his interaction with a disgraced individual.

The public (and the media) were far in advance of the royal family. There was not a single person of any significance to support him, a outcome of all those years of hubris.

Royal Worries

The more intelligent monarchical figures recognized that. The primary concern is to pass on the institution, if not as heretofore at least complete and untarnished.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of earlier rulers, showing they are useful, responsible and reactive to their people.

He was placing all that in danger in an era when deference and secrecy is no longer enough.

Aftermath

Ultimately, the well-known indecisive sovereign was pushed additional. There was no other option. The palace had lost control of the narrative.

Currently the stripping of titles and the ongoing and life-long public humiliation that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Demoted to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Past Example: The first member to surrender his designations in contemporary era
• Armed Forces: Particularly stinging given his service in the Falklands war

He is still a royal advisor, on paper able to substitute for the sovereign, and he is still in the lineage to the crown, but neither of these will actually come to pass.

What Lies Ahead

Do individuals he encounters still acknowledge him? Could they still slip up and call him Prince? Might they say Sir,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to a common area, but to the sovereign's vast property at a royal residence.

At that location, he will be provided by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of financial support.

It is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a minimal rent for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit distant, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Pending Matters

The situation continues. There are still files in the possession of overseas authorities to be disclosed.

• Political Pressure: Might parliament request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or investigate the improper use of state resources
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a police investigation into his conduct

Perhaps for the present the harm to the monarchy to the crown is restricted. The narrative from the palace was evidently that the stripping of titles was what the king, and especially other senior family members, wanted.

Changed Stance

The cessation of deception that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the short announcement showed clearly that the royals were siding with the complainant's narrative of incidents.

Even more, for the first time they eventually showed consideration for the survivors: "The censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the reality that he continues to deny the accusations against him."

In the end it is entitlement, self-seeking and inactivity that will undermine the monarchy. In his foolishness, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew gives the impression never to have learned that reality.