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

In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a female youth, while an associate beamed conspiratorially in the backdrop.

Absent that image, taken at a gathering in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a young woman who said she was moved across the sea and compelled to have cursory intimate contact with a individual of the monarchy?

A strange, indicative gesture by someone who had publicly claimed to have no been aware of her, claimed he could not have had intimate contact with her, and yet provided a substantial sum of monarchical resources to settle a drawn-out legal case.

Over a Decade of Disgrace

Considering this, conversations of the royal family acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are inaccurate. This controversy has endured for the majority of 15 years since that picture, and an additional snapshot of Andrew ambling amiably with a disgraced financier surfaced.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his mother and father, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Questionable Associations: They must have known, if his aides and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he publicly hosted them to estates.
• Financial Extravagance: If the household did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his extravagance with taxpayer funds.

Travel were listed in royal annual reports: helicopter travel from the palace to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, private flights instead of regular transport, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the presumption which required deference when he entered a area or the extreme obsession about his royal titles used on his official documents in communication to his friends.

He avoided accountability while his mother, who unaccountably indulged him, was still alive. The monarch did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his ill-fated and, as revealed, deceptive television interview six years ago.

Recent Developments

It was only in the last two weeks that events accelerated, following the release of biographical works giving more disturbing information of his actions and that of his associates.

More information have again highlighted Andrew's belief that he could get away with deceiving about his interaction with a notorious figure.

The public (and the media) were far ahead of the royal family. There was not a single person of any significance to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of hubris.

Royal Worries

The wiser royals recognized that. The key objective is to hand down the institution, if not as before at least whole and unstained.

For generations the last 190 years trying to overcome the reputation of past sovereigns, showing they are valuable, accountable and responsive to their citizens.

His actions endangered all that in danger in an age when submission and privacy is no longer sufficient.

Consequences

Ultimately, the famously indecisive monarch was pushed additional. There was no alternative. The institution had relinquished authority of the story.

Presently the loss of honorifics and the persistent and life-long social disgrace that will hurt Andrew most deeply.

• Downgrading: Lowered to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Past Example: The initial member to surrender his honorifics in recent history
• Military Service: Particularly painful given his duty in the conflict

He is still a royal advisor, on paper able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still eighth in line to the monarchy, but none of these will actually come to pass.

Coming Developments

Will people he meets still defer to him? Could they still slip up and call him Prince? Might they say Mr,

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

There, he will be supplied by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some type of personal stipend.

It is not his previous residence, where he paid a minimal rent for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit distant, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Unresolved Issues

The situation continues. There are still records in the possession of overseas authorities to be made public.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Could lawmakers seek further action
• Monetary Probe: Or investigate the improper use of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a police investigation into his actions

Maybe for the present the reputational impact to the crown is restricted. The narrative from the palace was plainly that the removal of honorifics was what the king, and particularly other senior royals, wanted.

Changed Stance

The cessation of deception that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, remarkably, the brief communication showed clearly that the institution were aligning with the complainant's narrative of incidents.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they eventually showed regard for the survivors: "These actions are judged required, notwithstanding the truth that he continues to deny the accusations against him."

Finally it is arrogance, self-seeking and laziness that will undermine the crown. In his stupidity, self-indulgence and venality, Andrew seems never to have learned that lesson.