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It all began with a single photograph, possibly the most impactful ever captured of a member of the monarchy.

Present was the Baron Killyleagh, standing closely beside a female youth, while an associate grinned knowingly in the background.

Lacking that snapshot, shot at a gathering in 2001, who would have believed the claims of a adolescent who declared she was transported across the ocean and forced to have brief intimate contact with a prince of the royal bloodline?

A strange, indicative action by someone who had publicly stated to have never heard of her, claimed he could not have had sex with her, and yet handed over a substantial sum of his mother's resources to avert a protracted legal case.

Years of Disgrace

Against this backdrop, talk of the royals acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are inaccurate. This affair has endured for the majority of 15 years since that image, and another image of Andrew ambling congenially with a notorious individual came to light.

• Self-importance: For what duration did his siblings, maybe even his relatives, know that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Questionable Associations: They must have known, if his staff and the police were fulfilling their roles, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he openly welcomed them to palaces.
• Monetary Excess: If the household did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his extravagance with state resources.

Trips were listed in public records: private aircraft transfers from the estate to a golf course and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of regular transport, all for the comfort of "the travel enthusiast".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the arrogance which required subservience when he walked into a area or the supreme awareness about his designations used on his letterheads in communication to his associates.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who strangely pampered him, was still surviving. The sovereign did at least strip him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the wake of his ill-fated and, as revealed, deceptive media appearance six years ago.

Recent Developments

It was only in the last two weeks that events sped up, following the release of accounts giving more grim information of his behavior and that of his associates.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could escape lying about his contact with a convicted criminal.

The public (and the journalists) were far in advance of the royal family. There was no one of any consequence to defend him, a consequence of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser family members recognized that. The primary concern is to transfer the crown, if not as heretofore at least whole and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the legacy of past sovereigns, demonstrating they are beneficial, responsible and responsive to their subjects.

Andrew was putting all that in jeopardy in an age when respect and secrecy is no longer enough.

Consequences

Eventually, the famously hesitant king was pushed further. There was no other option. The institution had surrendered command of the story.

Presently the stripping of titles and the persistent and lifetime public humiliation that will afflict Andrew most severely.

• Demotion: Lowered to just a private citizen
• Historical Precedent: The primary royal to surrender his titles in contemporary era
• Naval Career: Particularly stinging given his service in the conflict

He is still a constitutional officer, on paper able to act for the sovereign, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but neither of these will ever happen.

Coming Developments

Will people he comes across still show respect to him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Your Highness? Will they even say Mr,

Certainly, he is not moving to suburbia, but to the monarchy's vast estate at a monarchical property.

In that place, he will be furnished by the king with one of the estate properties and given some sort of private allowance.

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

Pending Matters

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

• Governmental Scrutiny: Might lawmakers request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or scrutinize the waste of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Perhaps for the moment the harm to the monarchy to the institution is limited. The narrative from the institution was clearly that the stripping of designations was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior family members, wanted.

A Shift in Position

No more pretence that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, remarkably, the concise announcement showed clearly that the royals were aligning with the complainant's version of incidents.

Furthermore, for the initial instance they eventually showed consideration for the affected individuals: "These actions are considered essential, regardless of the reality that he persists in refuting the allegations against him."

Ultimately it is presumption, selfishness and inactivity that will undermine the crown. In his folly, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew seems never to have learned that lesson.