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It all began with a solitary photograph, arguably the most consequential ever captured of a individual from the royal household.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, arm-in-arm a female youth, while another individual grinned conspiratorially in the background.

Without that snapshot, shot at a gathering in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the assertions of a young woman who stated she was moved across the Atlantic and compelled to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a individual of the royal bloodline?

A curious, telling move by someone who had openly claimed to have not heard of her, said he could no have had relations with her, and yet handed over a substantial sum of monarchical resources to avert a protracted court action.

A Long Period of Disgrace

In this context, conversations of the monarchy acting firmly to cut Andrew off are misguided. This controversy has persisted for the largest portion of 15 years since that picture, and a further snapshot of Andrew walking congenially with a disgraced financier came to light.

• Hubris: For what duration did his family members, possibly even his relatives, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Questionable Associations: They must have realized, if his aides and the police were performing their duties, that he had some highly questionable friends given he unabashedly hosted them to palaces.
• Monetary Excess: If the household did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Trips were listed in royal annual reports: chopper transfers from the palace to a country club and back again in time for midday meal, private flights instead of commercial flights, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

A Life of Privilege

Furthermore the arrogance which expected subservience when he walked into a room or the supreme awareness about his designations used on his correspondence in messages to his friends.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still living. The Queen did at least remove him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the consequence of his catastrophic and, we now know, untruthful public statement six years ago.

Recent Developments

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

Further disclosures have again revealed Andrew's thinking that he could escape being untruthful about his relationship with a disgraced individual.

The public (and the media) were far more perceptive of the monarchy. There was nobody of any significance to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of presumption.

Institutional Fears

The more astute monarchical figures realized that. The one imperative is to transfer the institution, if not as previously at least whole and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the legacy of past sovereigns, demonstrating they are useful, dutiful and attentive to their citizens.

Andrew was putting all that in jeopardy in an time when deference and discretion is no longer enough.

Aftermath

Ultimately, the notoriously uncertain monarch was pushed additional. There was no alternative. The palace had surrendered command of the story.

Currently the stripping of designations and the persistent and life-long public humiliation that will hurt Andrew the most.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The primary royal to surrender his designations in contemporary era
• Military Service: Especially painful given his service in the Falklands war

He is still a constitutional officer, on paper able to stand in for the king, and he is still eighth in line to the crown, but not any of these will actually come to pass.

What Lies Ahead

Will people he encounters still acknowledge him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Would they say Andrew,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the royal family's extensive estate at Sandringham.

At that location, he will be provided by the sovereign with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of private allowance.

This differs from his former home, where he paid a nominal rent for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit remote, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Unresolved Issues

This is not over. There are still files in the hands of American legislators to be disclosed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Might legislators request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or examine the waste of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Perhaps for the moment the harm to the monarchy to the institution is contained. The message from the palace was evidently that the removal of honorifics was what the sovereign, and especially other senior royals, wanted.

Altered Approach

An end to deception that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the concise communication showed clearly that the monarchy were siding with the victim's account of occurrences.

Additionally, for the premiere occasion they eventually showed concern for the victims: "These actions are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the truth that he maintains his innocence of the allegations against him."

Ultimately it is arrogance, selfishness and inactivity that will undermine the monarchy. In his foolishness, self-indulgence and corruption, Andrew appears never to have learned that truth.