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

There stood the Baron Killyleagh, arm-in-arm a female youth, while a companion beamed conspiratorially in the backdrop.

Absent that photograph, shot at a gathering in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the assertions of a young woman who stated she was transported across the ocean and forced to have perfunctory intimate contact with a prince of the monarchy?

A strange, telling gesture by someone who had overtly stated to have no heard of her, said he could no have had intimate contact with her, and yet handed over millions of family money to resolve a drawn-out lawsuit.

Over a Decade of Scandal

Considering this, discussions of the royals acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are inaccurate. This affair has endured for the better part of 15 years since that image, and an additional image of Andrew strolling congenially with a convicted sex offender emerged.

• Hubris: How long did his family members, maybe even his relatives, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his aides and the law enforcement were doing their jobs, that he had some highly questionable companions given he unabashedly hosted them to royal residences.
• Monetary Excess: If the monarchy did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Journeys were listed in royal annual reports: chopper travel from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for midday meal, private flights instead of scheduled services, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Additionally the presumption which demanded respect when he appeared in a area or the supreme obsession about his honorifics used on his official documents in communication to his friends.

He could get away with it while his parent, who inexplicably indulged him, was still surviving. The Queen did at least strip him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the wake of his catastrophic and, we now know, deceptive television interview six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the publication of accounts giving more grim particulars of his behavior and that of his associates.

More information have again highlighted Andrew's assumption that he could avoid being untruthful about his relationship with a disgraced individual.

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

Monarchical Concerns

The more astute monarchical figures recognized that. The key objective is to hand down the crown, if not as before at least complete and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of previous monarchs, demonstrating they are useful, accountable and responsive to their citizens.

He was placing all that in jeopardy in an age when respect and discretion is no longer sufficient.

Aftermath

Eventually, the notoriously indecisive king was prodded more. There was no other option. The royal household had surrendered command of the narrative.

Currently the stripping of titles and the continued and life-long social disgrace that will hurt Andrew the most.

• Demotion: Lowered to just a private citizen
• Past Example: The initial royal to forfeit his designations in modern times
• Armed Forces: Especially painful given his service in the Falklands war

He is still a constitutional officer, in principle able to stand in for the sovereign, and he is still in the lineage to the monarchy, but neither of these will ever come to pass.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he encounters still acknowledge him? Could they still forget themselves and call him Your Highness? Will they even say Andrew,

Of course, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the royal family's vast estate at a monarchical property.

In that place, he will be supplied by the king with one of the royal residences and given some form of private allowance.

It is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a nominal payment for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit far, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Outstanding Concerns

This is not over. There are still records in the hands of overseas authorities to be disclosed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Could parliament request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or examine the improper use of public money
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a criminal probe into his behavior

Perhaps for the moment the harm to the monarchy to the crown is limited. The narrative from the royal household was clearly that the stripping of honorifics was what the sovereign, and especially other senior family members, wanted.

Changed Stance

No more deception that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the concise announcement showed evidently that the royals were supporting the complainant's version of incidents.

Additionally, for the first time they finally showed regard for the victims: "These actions are judged required, regardless of the truth that he persists in refuting the accusations against him."

In the end it is presumption, selfishness and laziness that will kill the institution. In his foolishness, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew appears never to have understood that reality.