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

Present was the Duke of York, standing closely beside a female youth, while another individual smiled conspiratorially in the rear.

Without that photograph, taken at a party in 2001, who would have believed the allegations of a teenager who stated she was transported across the ocean and compelled to have cursory relations with a member of the monarchy?

A strange, revealing gesture by someone who had openly stated to have no known about her, claimed he could never have had sex with her, and yet paid a large amount of monarchical funds to resolve a protracted legal case.

Years of Disgrace

In this context, discussions of the monarchy acting decisively to cut Andrew off are wide of the mark. This controversy has endured for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and a further photo of Andrew walking amiably with a convicted sex offender surfaced.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his brothers and sisters, perhaps even his relatives, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Questionable Associations: They must have known, if his aides and the law enforcement were performing their duties, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he unabashedly invited them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the family did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his extravagance with state resources.

Journeys were listed in royal annual reports: private aircraft travel from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "the travel enthusiast".

World of Deference

Additionally the presumption which demanded subservience when he appeared in a room or the supreme obsession about his royal titles used on his correspondence in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He could get away with it while his parent, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still alive. The Queen did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the consequence of his catastrophic and, we now know, deceptive public statement six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last 14 days that events progressed rapidly, following the issuance of accounts giving more troubling particulars of his conduct and that of his companions.

Further disclosures have again revealed Andrew's thinking that he could escape deceiving about his interaction with a notorious figure.

The public (and the journalists) were far in advance of the monarchy. There was nobody of any consequence to defend him, a outcome of all those years of presumption.

Institutional Fears

The more intelligent royals understood that. The primary concern is to pass on the monarchy, if not as heretofore at least intact and unblemished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of past sovereigns, showing they are valuable, responsible and reactive to their citizens.

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

Consequences

Eventually, the notoriously indecisive sovereign was pushed additional. There was no alternative. The palace had relinquished authority of the account.

Currently the loss of honorifics and the ongoing and lifetime public humiliation that will afflict Andrew most severely.

• Demotion: Reduced to just a private citizen
• Historical Precedent: The initial monarch to surrender his titles in recent history
• Armed Forces: Notably painful given his role in the conflict

He continues to be a constitutional officer, on paper able to act for the king, and he is still in the lineage to the monarchy, but neither of these will ever come to pass.

Coming Developments

Do individuals he encounters still show respect to him? Could they still slip up and call him Your Highness? Would they say Mr,

Of course, he is not retiring to an ordinary town, but to the monarchy's large grounds at a monarchical property.

There, he will be supplied by the sovereign with one of the estate properties and given some type of financial support.

This differs from his previous residence, where he paid a minimal lease for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit far, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Outstanding Concerns

Matters remain unresolved. There are still documents in the possession of US Congress to be revealed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Will parliament seek further action
• Financial Investigation: Or investigate the waste of taxpayer funds
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a criminal probe into his behavior

Maybe for the time being the reputational impact to the institution is limited. The narrative from the palace was evidently that the revocation of honorifics was what the king, and particularly other senior family members, sought.

A Shift in Position

The cessation of illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the concise statement showed clearly that the royals were supporting the accuser's account of events.

Even more, for the first time they ultimately showed consideration for the affected individuals: "The censures are judged required, despite the truth that he persists in refuting the accusations against him."

Finally it is entitlement, selfishness and laziness that will undermine the crown. In his folly, personal excess and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that lesson.