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The saga started with a single photograph, arguably the most impactful ever snapped of a individual from the royal household.

Present was the Baron Killyleagh, arm-in-arm a young woman, while an associate smiled suggestively in the backdrop.

Without that image, taken at a gathering in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the allegations of a teenager who declared she was transported across the sea and compelled to have cursory sexual encounters with a prince of the monarchy?

A strange, revealing action by someone who had overtly claimed to have not heard of her, asserted he could never have had sex with her, and yet paid a large amount of family resources to settle a drawn-out court action.

A Long Period of Scandal

Considering this, talk of the monarchy acting firmly to distance themselves from Andrew are misguided. This controversy has persisted for the largest portion of 15 years since that picture, and another image of Andrew strolling amiably with a disgraced financier emerged.

• Self-importance: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, maybe even his parents, understand that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have known, if his staff and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some deeply disreputable friends given he publicly invited them to royal residences.
• Financial Extravagance: If the family did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Travel were listed in public records: chopper flights from the palace to a golf course and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "the travel enthusiast".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the entitlement which required subservience when he walked into a room or the profound obsession about his royal titles used on his official documents in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He could get away with it while his matriarch, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least remove him of public duties and military positions in the wake of his disastrous and, as revealed, untruthful public statement six years ago.

Latest Events

Merely in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the publication of accounts giving more disturbing particulars of his conduct and that of his companions.

Further disclosures have again exposed Andrew's belief that he could avoid lying about his interaction with a notorious figure.

Society (and the press) were far more perceptive of the royals. There was not a single person of any significance to speak up for him, a result of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser monarchical figures understood that. The primary concern is to hand down the institution, if not as previously at least whole and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to overcome the legacy of earlier rulers, demonstrating they are valuable, dutiful and attentive to their citizens.

His actions endangered all that in danger in an time when respect and discretion is no longer sufficient.

The Fallout

Eventually, the notoriously indecisive monarch was prodded further. There was no alternative. The institution had lost control of the account.

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

• Reduction: Reduced to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The primary monarch to forfeit his titles in recent history
• Armed Forces: Especially hurtful given his duty in the engagement

He remains a royal advisor, theoretically able to stand in for the king, and he is still in the lineage to the crown, but none of these will truly occur.

What Lies Ahead

Will people he meets still acknowledge him? Will they still make mistakes and call him Sir? Might they say Mr,

Certainly, he is not retiring to an ordinary town, but to the monarchy's vast estate at a monarchical property.

At that location, he will be provided by the sovereign with one of the grace and favour houses and given some type of personal stipend.

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

Pending Matters

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

• Parliamentary Interest: Might legislators request additional information
• Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the misuse of taxpayer funds
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his actions

Perhaps for the moment the institutional damage to the monarchy is restricted. The statement from the royal household was evidently that the removal of designations was what the king, and especially other senior royals, desired.

A Shift in Position

The cessation of illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the brief statement showed plainly that the monarchy were aligning with the victim's version of incidents.

Even more, for the initial instance they ultimately showed consideration for the survivors: "The censures are considered essential, regardless of the fact that he continues to deny the claims against him."

Finally it is arrogance, self-interest and inactivity that will undermine the institution. In his stupidity, personal excess and venality, Andrew seems never to have learned that lesson.