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The saga started with a single photograph, perhaps the most impactful ever taken of a member of the monarchy.

In the frame appeared the Baron Killyleagh, standing closely beside a young woman, while a companion grinned knowingly in the backdrop.

Without that snapshot, captured at a gathering in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a young woman who stated she was trafficked across the sea and forced to have cursory relations with a individual of the monarchy?

An odd, revealing action by someone who had publicly asserted to have no heard of her, said he could not have had relations with her, and yet paid a substantial sum of family resources to avert a protracted lawsuit.

Years of Scandal

In this context, discussions of the monarchy acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This scandal has continued for the majority of 15 years since that image, and an additional image of Andrew walking congenially with a disgraced financier surfaced.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his family members, maybe even his parents, know that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Questionable Associations: They must have realized, if his staff and the police were performing their duties, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he publicly welcomed them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with state resources.

Trips were listed in royal annual reports: helicopter transfers from the royal residence to a golf course and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "the frequent flyer".

A Life of Privilege

Furthermore the arrogance which required subservience when he entered a space or the profound awareness about his royal titles used on his official documents in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who strangely pampered him, was still surviving. The Queen did at least strip him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his disastrous and, we now know, untruthful media appearance six years ago.

Latest Events

Merely in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the release of books giving more troubling particulars of his actions and that of his associates.

More information have again exposed Andrew's belief that he could escape lying about his relationship with a convicted criminal.

Society (and the journalists) were far more perceptive of the royal family. There was nobody of any importance to defend him, a outcome of all those years of presumption.

Institutional Fears

The more intelligent royals recognized that. The one imperative is to pass on the institution, if not as before at least intact and unblemished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to undo the reputation of past sovereigns, demonstrating they are beneficial, accountable and reactive to their people.

His actions endangered all that in jeopardy in an age when respect and discretion is no longer adequate.

Aftermath

Eventually, the well-known uncertain sovereign was pushed additional. There was little choice. The institution had surrendered command of the account.

Now it is the removal of titles and the continued and lifetime public humiliation that will hurt Andrew most deeply.

• Demotion: Demoted to just a private citizen
• Past Example: The primary royal to surrender his titles in recent history
• Naval Career: Particularly painful given his role in the engagement

He continues to be a royal advisor, theoretically able to substitute for the monarch, and he is still eighth in line to the crown, but not any of these will truly occur.

Coming Developments

Will people he comes across still show respect to him? Might they still slip up and call him Prince? Would they say Sir,

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

In that place, he will be provided by the king with one of the royal residences and given some form of private allowance.

This differs from his previous residence, where he paid a minimal lease for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit distant, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Outstanding Concerns

Matters remain unresolved. There are still records in the hands of American legislators to be made public.

• Parliamentary Interest: Could legislators request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or investigate the waste of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Perhaps for the time being the reputational impact to the monarchy is limited. The narrative from the palace was plainly that the removal of honorifics was what the king, and particularly other senior monarchical figures, wanted.

Changed Stance

An end to pretence that Andrew was acting willingly. And, remarkably, the concise communication showed clearly that the royals were siding with the accuser's account of occurrences.

Furthermore, for the initial instance they finally showed regard for the victims: "The measures are considered essential, despite the truth that he persists in refuting the claims against him."

Finally it is entitlement, selfishness and indolence that will destroy the monarchy. In his stupidity, self-gratification and greed, Andrew seems never to have grasped that truth.