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

There stood the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a female youth, while an associate smiled conspiratorially in the rear.

Absent that snapshot, shot at a social event in 2001, few would have credited the assertions of a teenager who declared she was trafficked across the ocean and obliged to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a individual of the royal bloodline?

A curious, revealing action by someone who had openly asserted to have not heard of her, said he could no have had relations with her, and yet provided millions of his mother's funds to settle a drawn-out legal case.

Over a Decade of Scandal

In this context, talk of the royal family acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are misguided. This scandal has endured for the better part of 15 years since that photograph, and another image of Andrew strolling congenially with a disgraced financier surfaced.

• Arrogance: To what extent did his siblings, perhaps even his parents, realize that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Questionable Associations: They must have understood, if his aides and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he openly invited them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with public money.

Trips were documented in public records: private aircraft transfers from the estate to a country club and back again in time for lunch, exclusive air travel instead of regular transport, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the presumption which expected subservience when he appeared in a room or the profound awareness about his royal titles used on his correspondence in letters to his personal acquaintances.

He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who inexplicably spoiled him, was still surviving. The monarch did at least strip him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the wake of his ill-fated and, we now know, mendacious television interview six years ago.

Latest Events

It was only in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the publication of books giving more disturbing particulars of his behavior and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again exposed Andrew's thinking that he could escape being untruthful about his interaction with a notorious figure.

Society (and the journalists) were far more perceptive of the monarchy. There was no one of any significance to defend him, a outcome of all those years of presumption.

Royal Worries

The wiser family members realized that. The one imperative is to transfer the crown, if not as heretofore at least complete and untarnished.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to overcome the reputation of past sovereigns, showing they are valuable, accountable and responsive to their people.

Andrew was putting all that in jeopardy in an time when respect and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

The Fallout

Finally, the famously indecisive sovereign was pushed more. There was no other option. The institution had lost control of the story.

Now it is the loss of honorifics and the ongoing and permanent social disgrace that will pain Andrew the most.

• Downgrading: Demoted to just a private citizen
• Historical Precedent: The initial member to surrender his titles in contemporary era
• Naval Career: Particularly painful given his service in the conflict

He remains a royal advisor, theoretically able to stand in for the king, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but neither of these will ever happen.

What Lies Ahead

Do individuals he comes across still acknowledge him? Will they still make mistakes and call him Prince? Might they say Andrew,

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

At that location, he will be provided by the monarch with one of the estate properties and given some type of financial support.

This differs from his prior accommodation, where he paid a nominal rent for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit remote, but even so it may not be far enough.

Outstanding Concerns

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

• Governmental Scrutiny: Might parliament seek further action
• Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the misuse of public money
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Maybe for the present the institutional damage to the monarchy is contained. The narrative from the royal household was plainly that the removal of titles was what the king, and particularly other senior monarchical figures, desired.

Changed Stance

No more deception that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, significantly, the brief announcement showed evidently that the royals were aligning with the complainant's account of occurrences.

Even more, for the first time they ultimately showed regard for the affected individuals: "The censures are considered essential, regardless of the truth that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

Ultimately it is entitlement, self-interest and inactivity that will undermine the crown. In his foolishness, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew gives the impression never to have grasped that lesson.