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It all began with a isolated photograph, perhaps the most impactful ever captured of a individual from the royal household.

In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a teenage girl, while a companion grinned knowingly in the backdrop.

Without that image, taken at a party in 2001, few would have credited the assertions of a teenager who stated she was trafficked across the ocean and obliged to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a individual of the royal family?

A strange, indicative move by someone who had publicly stated to have not known about her, asserted he could never have had relations with her, and yet provided millions of his mother's money to settle a long-delayed legal case.

Over a Decade of Controversy

Considering this, discussions of the monarchy acting decisively to cut Andrew off are wide of the mark. This affair has continued for the largest portion of 15 years since that picture, and a further snapshot of Andrew strolling congenially with a disgraced financier came to light.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his family members, possibly even his mother and father, realize that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his staff and the police were doing their jobs, that he had some highly questionable companions 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.

Travel were listed in royal annual reports: private aircraft flights from the palace to a golf course and back again in time for lunch, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the comfort of "the frequent flyer".

A Life of Privilege

Then there was the entitlement which required deference when he appeared in a space or the supreme obsession about his royal titles used on his correspondence in letters to his associates.

He could get away with it while his parent, who inexplicably indulged him, was still living. The Queen did at least strip him of public duties and honorary colonelcies in the consequence of his disastrous and, we now know, untruthful television interview six years ago.

Latest Events

Just in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the issuance of accounts giving more disturbing details of his conduct and that of his connections.

More information have again exposed Andrew's assumption that he could get away with deceiving about his relationship with a convicted criminal.

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

Institutional Fears

The more astute family members understood that. The primary concern is to pass on the monarchy, if not as before at least whole and unblemished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of earlier rulers, demonstrating they are beneficial, dutiful and responsive to their citizens.

Andrew was putting all that in peril in an era when submission and secrecy is no longer adequate.

Consequences

Ultimately, the notoriously uncertain king was prodded further. There was no alternative. The royal household had lost control of the account.

Presently the stripping of titles and the persistent and life-long personal shame that will pain Andrew the most.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Past Example: The first royal to surrender his titles in recent history
• Armed Forces: Notably stinging given his role in the engagement

He remains a counsellor of state, in principle able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but neither of these will actually happen.

Future Prospects

Can persons he encounters still defer to him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Sir? Would they say Mr,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the monarchy's large estate at Sandringham.

At that location, he will be furnished by the king with one of the estate properties and given some sort of personal stipend.

This is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a token rent for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit far, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Outstanding Concerns

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

• Political Pressure: Might lawmakers seek further action
• Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the waste of public money
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Possibly for the present the reputational impact to the institution is restricted. The statement from the palace was clearly that the stripping of designations was what the monarch, and notably other senior royals, sought.

Altered Approach

An end to deception that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the short announcement showed evidently that the royals were siding with the victim's narrative of incidents.

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

Ultimately it is arrogance, self-seeking and indolence that will undermine the monarchy. In his stupidity, personal excess and venality, Andrew seems never to have learned that lesson.