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It all began with a solitary photograph, perhaps the most impactful ever snapped of a member of the monarchy.

Present was the Earl of Inverness, with his arm around a young woman, while a companion beamed conspiratorially in the backdrop.

Without that photograph, taken at a party in 2001, who would have believed the allegations of a teenager who said she was transported across the sea and compelled to have cursory sexual encounters with a prince of the monarchy?

A strange, telling move by someone who had openly stated to have never heard of her, said he could never have had sex with her, and yet handed over millions of family resources to settle a drawn-out legal case.

A Long Period of Controversy

In this context, conversations of the royal family acting decisively to distance themselves from Andrew are wide of the mark. This scandal has persisted for the better part of 15 years since that photograph, and a further snapshot of Andrew strolling amiably with a convicted sex offender emerged.

• Arrogance: To what extent did his family members, maybe even his mother and father, realize that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have known, if his employees and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some highly questionable companions given he publicly invited them to palaces.
• Financial Extravagance: If the household did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with state resources.

Travel were listed in public records: helicopter flights from the royal residence to a golf course and back again in time for midday meal, chartered planes instead of commercial flights, all for the comfort of "the frequent flyer".

World of Deference

Additionally the arrogance which required respect when he appeared in a space or the supreme consciousness about his honorifics used on his official documents in letters to his associates.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who inexplicably spoiled him, was still surviving. The monarch did at least revoke him of public duties and honorary colonelcies in the aftermath of his disastrous and, we now know, mendacious public statement six years ago.

Recent Developments

Just in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the publication of books giving more disturbing particulars of his actions and that of his connections.

More information have again revealed Andrew's thinking that he could get away with being untruthful about his interaction with a convicted criminal.

The public (and the journalists) were far ahead of the royal family. There was not a single person of any consequence to support him, a outcome of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The more intelligent monarchical figures recognized that. The one imperative is to pass on the crown, if not as heretofore at least whole and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the reputation of earlier rulers, proving they are valuable, dutiful and attentive to their people.

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

Consequences

Finally, the famously uncertain monarch was prodded further. There was no other option. The royal household had relinquished authority of the account.

Currently the removal of honorifics and the ongoing and life-long social disgrace that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Demoted to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The primary member to lose his honorifics in modern times
• Military Service: Notably painful given his service in the engagement

He is still a constitutional officer, theoretically able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but none of these will ever happen.

Future Prospects

Can persons he meets still acknowledge him? Will they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Will they even say Sir,

Certainly, he is not moving to an ordinary town, but to the sovereign's vast estate at a monarchical property.

There, he will be provided by the sovereign with one of the estate properties and given some form of private allowance.

It is not his former home, where he paid a minimal rent for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit far, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still documents in the hands of US Congress to be revealed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Could legislators demand more
• Fiscal Review: Or investigate the waste of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his actions

Possibly for the moment the reputational impact to the crown is limited. The narrative from the institution was plainly that the stripping of titles was what the sovereign, and especially other senior monarchical figures, sought.

Altered Approach

No more pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, remarkably, the concise statement showed clearly that the royals were siding with the complainant's version of incidents.

Furthermore, for the initial instance they ultimately showed concern for the victims: "These actions are considered essential, regardless of the fact that he persists in refuting the accusations against him."

In the end it is presumption, selfishness and indolence that will kill the monarchy. In his foolishness, personal excess and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that reality.