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The saga started with a solitary photograph, possibly the most significant ever taken of a royal family member.

Present was the Earl of Inverness, with his arm around a young woman, while another individual grinned conspiratorially in the rear.

Lacking that photograph, captured at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the allegations of a young woman who said she was moved across the ocean and compelled to have perfunctory relations with a prince of the royal family?

An odd, indicative action by someone who had openly stated to have not heard of her, asserted he could never have had intimate contact with her, and yet paid a substantial sum of monarchical money to settle a drawn-out legal case.

A Long Period of Disgrace

In this context, discussions of the royals acting firmly to cut Andrew off are misguided. This controversy has continued for the better part of 15 years since that image, and a further photo of Andrew strolling pleasantly with a convicted sex offender surfaced.

• Arrogance: How long did his siblings, perhaps even his parents, realize that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his staff and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some highly questionable friends given he openly invited them to palaces.
• Monetary Excess: If the family did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his extravagance with taxpayer funds.

Trips were documented in public records: private aircraft flights from the estate to a sporting venue and back again in time for dining, private flights instead of regular transport, all for the comfort of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Additionally the arrogance which required respect when he walked into a area or the profound consciousness about his honorifics used on his official documents in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still living. The Queen did at least remove him of official roles and military positions in the consequence of his ill-fated and, it is now clear, deceptive television interview six years ago.

Latest Events

Just in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the release of accounts giving more troubling information of his conduct and that of his companions.

More information have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could avoid being untruthful about his contact with a notorious figure.

Society (and the media) were far more perceptive of the royal family. There was no one of any significance to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of presumption.

Institutional Fears

The more astute family members understood that. The key objective is to transfer the institution, if not as heretofore at least intact and untarnished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to overcome the reputation of earlier rulers, showing they are beneficial, responsible and attentive to their people.

His actions endangered all that in peril in an time when respect and secrecy is no longer enough.

The Fallout

Ultimately, the famously hesitant monarch was prodded further. There was no alternative. The institution had surrendered command of the narrative.

Currently the removal of honorifics and the ongoing and life-long personal shame that will hurt Andrew most deeply.

• Downgrading: Demoted to just a private citizen
• Prior Instance: The initial royal to forfeit his designations in modern times
• Military Service: Especially stinging given his service in the Falklands war

He remains a counsellor of state, on paper able to stand in for the sovereign, and he is still in the lineage to the throne, but neither of these will actually happen.

Coming Developments

Do individuals he comes across still defer to him? Could they still slip up and call him Prince? Might they say Sir,

Of course, he is not retiring to suburbia, but to the sovereign's vast property at a monarchical property.

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

It is not his prior accommodation, 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.

Pending Matters

Matters remain unresolved. There are still files in the possession of US Congress to be disclosed.

• Political Pressure: Might lawmakers seek further action
• Financial Investigation: Or investigate the improper use of taxpayer funds
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Possibly for the present the harm to the monarchy to the institution is contained. The narrative from the royal household was plainly that the stripping of honorifics was what the king, and particularly other senior royals, desired.

Altered Approach

No more deception that Andrew was acting willingly. And, significantly, the brief statement showed plainly that the royals were aligning with the accuser's narrative of events.

Even more, for the first time they eventually showed regard for the victims: "The censures are judged required, notwithstanding the truth that he persists in refuting the accusations against him."

Finally it is presumption, selfishness and laziness that will destroy the monarchy. In his stupidity, personal excess and corruption, Andrew seems never to have grasped that reality.