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It all began with a isolated photograph, perhaps the most consequential ever snapped of a royal family member.

Present was the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a teenage girl, while another individual beamed conspiratorially in the background.

Absent that snapshot, shot at a social event in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the claims of a teenager who stated she was moved across the ocean and forced to have cursory intimate contact with a prince of the royal bloodline?

A curious, revealing gesture by someone who had openly asserted to have no been aware of her, said he could no have had intimate contact with her, and yet handed over millions of monarchical money to avert a protracted court action.

Years of Disgrace

In this context, discussions of the monarchy acting decisively to distance themselves from Andrew are inaccurate. This scandal has continued for the majority of 15 years since that photograph, and an additional photo of Andrew ambling amiably with a notorious individual surfaced.

• Self-importance: To what extent did his family members, maybe even his parents, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his aides and the law enforcement were fulfilling their roles, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he openly hosted them to estates.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the family did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Trips were printed in public records: helicopter transfers from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for midday meal, private flights instead of commercial flights, all for the convenience of "the travel enthusiast".

World of Deference

Additionally the arrogance which required respect when he walked into a area or the supreme consciousness about his designations used on his letterheads in letters to his personal acquaintances.

He could get away with it while his mother, who strangely pampered him, was still living. The Queen did at least remove him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the aftermath of his ill-fated and, we now know, mendacious television interview six years ago.

Recent Developments

Merely in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the publication of accounts giving more grim details of his actions and that of his connections.

More information have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could get away with lying about his contact with a convicted criminal.

The public (and the media) were far ahead of the royal family. There was not a single person of any significance to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of arrogance.

Institutional Fears

The more intelligent royals understood that. The one imperative is to hand down the crown, if not as heretofore at least intact and unblemished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the image of previous monarchs, demonstrating they are beneficial, responsible and responsive to their citizens.

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

Aftermath

Eventually, the well-known hesitant king was prodded additional. There was no alternative. The institution had relinquished authority of the story.

Presently the stripping of titles and the persistent and life-long public humiliation that will afflict Andrew the most.

• Demotion: Demoted to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The primary member to surrender his designations in contemporary era
• Naval Career: Particularly stinging given his service in the conflict

He remains a royal advisor, theoretically able to act for the king, and he is still eighth in line to the monarchy, but neither of these will actually come to pass.

Future Prospects

Can persons he comes across still show respect to him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Would they say Mr,

Certainly, he is not retiring to a common area, but to the royal family's large grounds at a royal residence.

At that location, he will be furnished by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some form of private allowance.

This differs from his former home, where he paid a nominal lease for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit far, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Outstanding Concerns

This is not over. There are still documents in the possession of US Congress to be revealed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Will legislators seek further action
• Fiscal Review: Or scrutinize the misuse of public money
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Possibly for the time being the harm to the monarchy to the crown is contained. The narrative from the institution was clearly that the stripping of honorifics was what the monarch, and particularly other senior family members, desired.

Changed Stance

The cessation of pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, remarkably, the concise statement showed plainly that the monarchy were siding with the victim's version of events.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they eventually showed consideration for the victims: "The censures are deemed necessary, despite the reality that he persists in refuting the claims against him."

Ultimately it is presumption, self-seeking and laziness that will undermine the institution. In his foolishness, personal excess and greed, Andrew seems never to have grasped that lesson.