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This episode commenced with a single photograph, perhaps the most impactful ever captured of a member of the monarchy.

In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a female youth, while a companion grinned knowingly in the background.

Absent that photograph, captured at a social event in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the assertions of a teenager who said she was moved across the Atlantic and compelled to have brief sexual encounters with a member of the royal bloodline?

A strange, revealing gesture by someone who had publicly stated to have never known about her, asserted he could no have had sex with her, and yet provided a large amount of monarchical resources to avert a protracted legal case.

A Long Period of Disgrace

In this context, discussions of the royal family acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This affair has persisted for the largest portion of 15 years since that picture, and another image of Andrew strolling amiably with a notorious individual came to light.

• Self-importance: For what duration did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his parents, realize that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Problematic Connections: They must have known, if his employees and the law enforcement were performing their duties, that he had some highly questionable friends given he openly invited them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the household did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his extravagance with public money.

Trips were printed in official documents: private aircraft flights from the palace to a country club and back again in time for midday meal, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the benefit of "the travel enthusiast".

A Life of Privilege

Furthermore the arrogance which required deference when he appeared in a area or the profound awareness about his designations used on his correspondence in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He could get away with it while his matriarch, who inexplicably pampered him, was still alive. The Queen did at least strip him of official roles and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his catastrophic and, it is now clear, untruthful public statement six years ago.

Recent Developments

Just in the last 14 days that events progressed rapidly, following the publication of accounts giving more troubling details of his actions and that of his associates.

Additional revelations have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could get away with lying about his contact with a notorious figure.

People (and the journalists) were far ahead of the royals. There was nobody of any significance to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The more intelligent royals recognized that. The key objective is to transfer the institution, if not as before at least intact and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to overcome the reputation of earlier rulers, showing they are valuable, dutiful and responsive to their people.

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

Consequences

Finally, the famously indecisive monarch was prodded further. There was no alternative. The royal household had lost control of the narrative.

Now it is the stripping of titles and the ongoing and lifetime personal shame that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Demotion: Reduced to just a private citizen
• Historical Precedent: The initial member to lose his designations in contemporary era
• Military Service: Notably hurtful given his role in the Falklands war

He remains a royal advisor, theoretically able to substitute for the monarch, and he is still in the lineage to the crown, but neither of these will ever come to pass.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he comes across still show respect to him? Will they still make mistakes and call him Your Highness? Will they even say Andrew,

Of course, he is not retiring to a common area, but to the sovereign's vast grounds at Sandringham.

There, he will be supplied by the sovereign with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of financial support.

It is not his previous residence, where he paid a token lease for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit remote, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Unresolved Issues

The situation continues. There are still files in the hands of US Congress to be made public.

• Political Pressure: Might lawmakers seek further action
• Monetary Probe: Or examine the misuse of public money
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a criminal probe into his actions

Possibly for the present the reputational impact to the monarchy is limited. The message from the institution was plainly that the stripping of titles was what the monarch, and particularly other senior family members, sought.

Altered Approach

No more deception that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, remarkably, the short announcement showed evidently that the monarchy were aligning with the complainant's version of occurrences.

Even more, for the first time they eventually showed regard for the survivors: "These actions are deemed necessary, despite the reality that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

Finally it is arrogance, self-interest and inactivity that will destroy the monarchy. In his stupidity, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that truth.