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It all began with a single photograph, possibly the most significant ever taken of a individual from the royal household.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, with his arm around a female youth, while another individual grinned suggestively in the background.

Lacking that photograph, shot at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the allegations of a adolescent who declared she was trafficked across the Atlantic and obliged to have brief intimate contact with a member of the royal family?

An odd, indicative action by someone who had openly asserted to have not heard of her, claimed he could not have had relations with her, and yet provided a substantial sum of monarchical funds to resolve a drawn-out lawsuit.

Over a Decade of Scandal

Considering this, talk of the monarchy acting swiftly to cut Andrew off are inaccurate. This controversy has endured for the majority of 15 years since that picture, and another photo of Andrew walking amiably with a notorious individual emerged.

• Hubris: How long did his brothers and sisters, perhaps even his relatives, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his aides and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he openly hosted them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the family did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Travel were printed in public records: chopper travel from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "Airmiles Andy".

Existence of Entitlement

Then there was the arrogance which required deference when he appeared in a area or the supreme awareness about his royal titles used on his correspondence in communication to his associates.

He could get away with it while his matriarch, who inexplicably spoiled him, was still alive. The monarch did at least remove him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the wake of his ill-fated and, as revealed, untruthful media appearance six years ago.

Latest Events

It was only in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the issuance of biographical works giving more grim particulars of his behavior and that of his companions.

More information have again highlighted Andrew's belief that he could get away with deceiving about his interaction with a disgraced individual.

Society (and the media) were far ahead of the monarchy. There was nobody of any significance to defend him, a outcome of all those years of presumption.

Royal Worries

The more intelligent family members realized that. The key objective is to pass on the institution, if not as heretofore at least complete and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to overcome the reputation of past sovereigns, demonstrating they are useful, dutiful and reactive to their subjects.

Andrew was putting all that in danger in an time when submission and privacy is no longer adequate.

Aftermath

Eventually, the well-known hesitant monarch was prodded more. There was little choice. The institution had surrendered command of the account.

Presently the loss of designations and the persistent and permanent public humiliation that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Lowered to just a private citizen
• Historical Precedent: The initial royal to forfeit his honorifics in recent history
• Armed Forces: Notably stinging given his service in the Falklands war

He remains a constitutional officer, theoretically able to act for the monarch, and he is still in the lineage to the monarchy, but none of these will actually occur.

Future Prospects

Can persons he encounters still show respect to him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Your Highness? Might they say Andrew,

Naturally, he is not moving to a common area, but to the sovereign's large property at a royal residence.

There, he will be provided by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some form of private allowance.

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

Unresolved Issues

The situation continues. There are still records in the possession of American legislators to be revealed.

• Political Pressure: Could legislators seek further action
• Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the misuse of taxpayer funds
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a criminal probe into his conduct

Perhaps for the present the institutional damage to the monarchy is limited. The message from the institution was plainly that the revocation of designations was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior royals, wanted.

A Shift in Position

The cessation of illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, significantly, the short statement showed clearly that the institution were supporting the accuser's narrative of incidents.

Furthermore, for the first time they ultimately showed concern for the affected individuals: "The measures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."

Ultimately it is arrogance, selfishness and laziness that will undermine the monarchy. In his foolishness, personal excess and greed, Andrew seems never to have learned that truth.