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

In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a female youth, while another individual smiled conspiratorially in the backdrop.

Lacking that snapshot, taken at a party in 2001, who would have believed the claims of a teenager who stated she was transported across the ocean and forced to have cursory relations with a member of the royal bloodline?

A strange, telling gesture by someone who had openly stated to have no heard of her, claimed he could no have had sex with her, and yet provided millions of family funds to resolve a long-delayed lawsuit.

A Long Period of Disgrace

In this context, talk of the monarchy acting decisively to cut Andrew off are wide of the mark. This scandal has continued for the majority of 15 years since that image, and an additional photo of Andrew walking pleasantly with a convicted sex offender emerged.

• Self-importance: For what duration did his family members, maybe even his parents, understand that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his employees and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some highly questionable associates given he openly hosted them to royal residences.
• Financial Extravagance: If the family did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his extravagance with taxpayer funds.

Journeys were documented in public records: chopper transfers from the royal residence to a golf course and back again in time for lunch, exclusive air travel instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the arrogance which expected deference when he appeared in a space or the supreme awareness about his designations used on his letterheads in messages to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who strangely spoiled him, was still surviving. The Queen did at least strip him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the wake of his catastrophic and, as revealed, deceptive television interview six years ago.

Recent Developments

It was only in the last fortnight that events sped up, following the publication of accounts giving more disturbing information of his behavior and that of his associates.

Additional revelations have again revealed Andrew's belief that he could escape lying about his relationship with a disgraced individual.

Society (and the journalists) were far in advance of the royals. There was not a single person of any significance to support him, a consequence of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser monarchical figures understood that. The key objective is to hand down the monarchy, if not as before at least complete and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of past sovereigns, demonstrating they are beneficial, dutiful and responsive to their people.

His actions endangered all that in danger in an era when deference and privacy is no longer adequate.

Consequences

Finally, the famously hesitant monarch was prodded more. There was little choice. The palace had surrendered command of the narrative.

Currently the removal of titles and the ongoing and lifetime social disgrace that will hurt Andrew the most.

• Reduction: Reduced to just a private citizen
• Historical Precedent: The primary member to lose his titles in modern times
• Armed Forces: Notably painful given his service in the conflict

He remains a counsellor of state, on paper able to substitute for the king, and he is still eighth in line to the crown, but not any of these will truly come to pass.

Future Prospects

Will people he meets still acknowledge him? Could they still make mistakes and call him Your Highness? Will they even say Mr,

Certainly, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the monarchy's extensive property at Sandringham.

At that location, he will be supplied by the monarch with one of the estate properties and given some form of personal stipend.

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

Pending Matters

Matters remain unresolved. There are still documents in the custody of overseas authorities to be made public.

• Parliamentary Interest: Will lawmakers seek further action
• Monetary Probe: Or investigate the improper use of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a police investigation into his conduct

Possibly for the present the reputational impact to the institution is limited. The message from the palace was plainly that the revocation of titles was what the king, and notably other senior royals, sought.

A Shift in Position

An end to deception that Andrew was acting willingly. And, remarkably, the concise statement showed plainly that the royals were siding with the accuser's narrative of occurrences.

Even more, for the first time they eventually showed concern for the victims: "The censures are considered essential, notwithstanding the truth that he continues to deny the allegations against him."

Finally it is arrogance, self-interest and laziness that will kill the monarchy. In his foolishness, self-gratification and greed, Andrew appears never to have grasped that reality.