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It all began with a single photograph, arguably the most consequential ever taken of a royal family member.

In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, with his arm around a young woman, while an associate grinned conspiratorially in the background.

Without that snapshot, captured at a gathering in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the assertions of a teenager who declared she was moved across the ocean and obliged to have cursory relations with a individual of the royal family?

An odd, indicative action by someone who had openly stated to have no been aware of her, said he could not have had intimate contact with her, and yet paid a substantial sum of family funds to settle a protracted legal case.

Years of Disgrace

Against this backdrop, discussions of the royals acting swiftly to cut Andrew off are inaccurate. This affair has persisted for the largest portion of 15 years since that picture, and another photo of Andrew walking pleasantly with a notorious individual emerged.

• Arrogance: How long did his family members, maybe even his parents, realize that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his aides and the law enforcement were doing their jobs, that he had some highly questionable associates given he unabashedly invited them to estates.
• Monetary Excess: If the household did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Journeys were printed in royal annual reports: helicopter travel 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 benefit of "the travel enthusiast".

World of Deference

Additionally the presumption which expected deference when he appeared in a room or the supreme awareness about his designations used on his official documents in letters to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who strangely indulged him, was still surviving. The sovereign did at least revoke him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the aftermath of his disastrous and, we now know, untruthful television interview six years ago.

Latest Events

It was only in the last fortnight that events progressed rapidly, following the publication of accounts giving more grim details of his actions and that of his companions.

Further disclosures have again revealed Andrew's belief that he could avoid lying about his interaction with a notorious figure.

People (and the journalists) were far more perceptive of the royal family. There was nobody of any importance to speak up for him, a result of all those years of arrogance.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser monarchical figures realized that. The key objective is to transfer the crown, if not as heretofore at least whole and unblemished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of earlier rulers, demonstrating they are useful, responsible and responsive to their people.

He was placing all that in jeopardy in an time when deference and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

The Fallout

Finally, the well-known indecisive monarch was pushed further. There was no alternative. The institution had lost control of the account.

Now it is the stripping of titles and the ongoing and life-long social disgrace that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Reduction: Demoted to just a private citizen
• Prior Instance: The primary royal to lose his designations in modern times
• Naval Career: Especially painful given his service in the engagement

He remains a constitutional officer, theoretically able to act for the king, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but none of these will actually come to pass.

Coming Developments

Will people he encounters still show respect to him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Your Highness? Might they say Andrew,

Of course, he is not retiring to an ordinary town, but to the sovereign's vast property at a royal residence.

There, he will be provided by the monarch with one of the grace and favour houses and given some form of financial support.

It is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a token rent for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit remote, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Outstanding Concerns

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

• Parliamentary Interest: Will lawmakers request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or scrutinize the misuse of public money
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a police investigation into his behavior

Possibly for the present the harm to the monarchy to the institution is contained. The statement from the palace was plainly that the removal of designations was what the sovereign, and especially other senior family members, wanted.

A Shift in Position

No more deception that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, notably, the concise announcement showed plainly that the monarchy were siding with the accuser's narrative of occurrences.

Even more, for the first time they finally showed consideration for the affected individuals: "These actions are considered essential, despite the fact that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

Finally it is presumption, selfishness and indolence that will kill the crown. In his stupidity, self-indulgence and corruption, Andrew appears never to have grasped that reality.