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

Present was the Earl of Inverness, with his arm around a teenage girl, while an associate beamed suggestively in the backdrop.

Absent that snapshot, captured at a party in 2001, few would have credited the claims of a teenager who declared she was transported across the sea and compelled to have brief relations with a prince of the royal family?

A curious, indicative action by someone who had openly stated to have not heard of her, claimed he could not have had intimate contact with her, and yet handed over a large amount of monarchical resources to avert a long-delayed legal case.

A Long Period of Controversy

In this context, conversations of the monarchy acting decisively to distance themselves from Andrew are misguided. This scandal has endured for the largest portion of 15 years since that photograph, and another snapshot of Andrew walking congenially with a notorious individual emerged.

• Arrogance: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his mother and father, know that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his staff and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some deeply disreputable friends given he publicly welcomed them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his extravagance with state resources.

Journeys were listed in official documents: helicopter flights from the palace to a country club and back again in time for lunch, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

A Life of Privilege

Then there was the entitlement which expected deference when he appeared in a room or the extreme obsession about his honorifics used on his official documents in messages to his associates.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who unaccountably pampered him, was still living. The monarch did at least remove him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the consequence of his catastrophic and, as revealed, untruthful media appearance six years ago.

Latest Events

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

More information have again exposed Andrew's assumption that he could avoid deceiving about his contact with a disgraced individual.

People (and the press) were far in advance of the royal family. There was not a single person of any significance to defend him, a outcome of all those years of hubris.

Royal Worries

The more intelligent royals understood that. The key objective is to hand down the monarchy, if not as before at least intact and unblemished.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to overcome the reputation of past sovereigns, demonstrating they are valuable, dutiful and responsive to their citizens.

He was placing all that in danger in an time when respect and privacy is no longer enough.

Aftermath

Ultimately, the well-known hesitant king was pressured additional. There was little choice. The palace had relinquished authority of the account.

Presently the stripping of designations and the persistent and permanent personal shame that will hurt Andrew the most.

• Reduction: Lowered to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The first member to forfeit his titles in recent history
• Naval Career: Especially hurtful given his duty in the Falklands war

He continues to be a constitutional officer, theoretically able to act for the king, and he is still in the lineage to the throne, but neither of these will actually happen.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he encounters still acknowledge him? Could they still forget themselves and call him Prince? Might they say Mr,

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

There, he will be furnished by the sovereign with one of the royal residences and given some form of financial support.

This is not his previous residence, where he paid a nominal payment 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 overseas authorities to be revealed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Will lawmakers demand more
• Monetary Probe: Or investigate the waste of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a police investigation into his actions

Perhaps for the time being the harm to the monarchy to the institution is limited. The narrative from the palace was clearly that the removal of titles was what the monarch, and especially other senior monarchical figures, wanted.

A Shift in Position

The cessation of pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, notably, the concise communication showed plainly that the institution were aligning with the victim's version of occurrences.

Even more, for the initial instance they ultimately showed consideration for the victims: "The measures are deemed necessary, despite the fact that he persists in refuting the allegations against him."

In the end it is presumption, self-interest and inactivity that will destroy the crown. In his folly, self-indulgence and greed, Andrew appears never to have grasped that truth.