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This episode commenced with a isolated photograph, arguably the most significant ever snapped of a royal family member.

Present was the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a young woman, while an associate beamed conspiratorially in the rear.

Lacking that photograph, shot at a party in 2001, few would have credited the assertions of a young woman who said she was trafficked across the Atlantic and obliged to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a member of the royal family?

A curious, telling action by someone who had publicly claimed to have not known about her, claimed he could not have had intimate contact with her, and yet paid a large amount of monarchical resources to settle a long-delayed court action.

Over a Decade of Controversy

Considering this, talk of the royal family acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are inaccurate. This scandal has endured for the largest portion of 15 years since that photograph, and a further image of Andrew strolling amiably with a disgraced financier emerged.

• Hubris: How long did his brothers and sisters, perhaps even his relatives, know that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his aides and the police were performing their duties, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he unabashedly hosted them to royal residences.
• Monetary Excess: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with state resources.

Journeys were listed in official documents: helicopter flights from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for midday meal, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "the travel enthusiast".

World of Deference

Additionally the arrogance which demanded respect when he entered a area or the supreme consciousness about his royal titles used on his correspondence in communication to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who unaccountably pampered him, was still surviving. The monarch did at least strip him of official roles and military positions in the wake of his disastrous and, as revealed, mendacious media appearance six years ago.

Recent Developments

Just in the last fortnight that events accelerated, following the publication of biographical works giving more grim details of his actions and that of his companions.

Additional revelations have again exposed Andrew's thinking that he could get away with lying about his relationship with a disgraced individual.

Society (and the press) were far ahead of the royal family. There was not a single person of any importance to support him, a result of all those years of hubris.

Institutional Fears

The more intelligent monarchical figures understood that. The one imperative is to pass on the institution, if not as previously at least whole and untarnished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to overcome the reputation of earlier rulers, proving they are useful, responsible and responsive to their subjects.

He was placing all that in danger in an age when submission and secrecy is no longer enough.

Consequences

Eventually, the famously hesitant monarch was pressured additional. There was no other option. The royal household had surrendered command of the story.

Presently the loss of honorifics and the ongoing and lifetime social disgrace that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Reduction: Reduced to just a commoner
• Prior Instance: The initial royal to forfeit his titles in recent history
• Naval Career: Especially hurtful given his duty in the Falklands war

He remains a royal advisor, on paper able to act for the sovereign, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but neither of these will actually come to pass.

Future Prospects

Do individuals he encounters still show respect to him? Might they still slip up and call him Prince? Would they say Sir,

Of course, he is not retiring to a common area, but to the monarchy's vast estate at a monarchical property.

In that place, he will be supplied by the sovereign with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of personal stipend.

This differs from his previous residence, where he paid a token payment for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit distant, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still records in the hands of overseas authorities to be revealed.

• Political Pressure: Might legislators demand more
• Financial Investigation: Or examine the waste of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a criminal probe into his conduct

Perhaps for the present the reputational impact to the institution is contained. The narrative from the institution was plainly that the removal of honorifics was what the monarch, and particularly other senior monarchical figures, sought.

A Shift in Position

No more illusion that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, notably, the short announcement showed clearly that the royals were aligning with the victim's version of events.

Furthermore, for the initial instance they eventually showed consideration for the affected individuals: "The censures are judged required, notwithstanding the truth that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

Finally it is presumption, selfishness and laziness that will kill the monarchy. In his folly, personal excess and greed, Andrew seems never to have grasped that truth.