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The saga started with a isolated photograph, perhaps the most significant ever snapped of a individual from the royal household.

There stood the Baron Killyleagh, arm-in-arm a young woman, while another individual smiled suggestively in the backdrop.

Lacking that image, taken at a party in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a adolescent who stated she was moved across the sea and forced to have cursory relations with a prince of the royal family?

A curious, telling gesture by someone who had publicly stated to have not heard of her, said he could no have had intimate contact with her, and yet paid a large amount of family funds to resolve a long-delayed legal case.

A Long Period of Scandal

Against this backdrop, conversations of the monarchy acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are inaccurate. This affair has continued for the majority of 15 years since that picture, and another photo of Andrew ambling amiably with a disgraced financier came to light.

• Arrogance: To what extent did his family members, possibly even his mother and father, know that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his aides and the police were fulfilling their roles, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he publicly invited them to palaces.
• Financial Extravagance: If the household did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with public money.

Travel were listed in public records: helicopter transfers from the estate to a sporting venue and back again in time for lunch, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "the travel enthusiast".

World of Deference

Furthermore the entitlement which expected deference when he entered a area or the extreme awareness about his royal titles used on his letterheads in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He avoided accountability while his mother, who inexplicably pampered him, was still alive. The Queen did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his disastrous and, as revealed, untruthful public statement six years ago.

Current Situation

Merely in the last fortnight that events accelerated, following the issuance of accounts giving more grim details of his conduct and that of his companions.

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

The public (and the media) were far in advance of the royal family. There was no one of any consequence to support him, a result of all those years of presumption.

Institutional Fears

The wiser family members realized that. The one imperative is to transfer the institution, if not as before at least whole and unstained.

For generations the last 190 years trying to overcome the reputation of earlier rulers, proving they are useful, dutiful and reactive to their citizens.

He was placing all that in peril in an age when submission and discretion is no longer sufficient.

Aftermath

Ultimately, the famously uncertain sovereign was pushed further. There was little choice. The royal household had surrendered command of the account.

Now it is the stripping of designations and the persistent and life-long social disgrace that will hurt Andrew most deeply.

• Reduction: Reduced to just a private citizen
• Prior Instance: The first member to surrender his designations in modern times
• Naval Career: Particularly hurtful given his role in the engagement

He remains a constitutional officer, theoretically able to stand in for the sovereign, and he is still eighth in line to the monarchy, but not any of these will truly occur.

Future Prospects

Do individuals he meets still show respect to him? Will they still make mistakes and call him Your Highness? Will they even say Andrew,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the monarchy's vast property at a monarchical property.

There, he will be supplied by the king with one of the estate properties and given some type of financial support.

This is not his previous residence, where he paid a nominal rent for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit far, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Unresolved Issues

Matters remain unresolved. There are still files in the possession of US Congress to be revealed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Might parliament request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or scrutinize the improper use of taxpayer funds
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Possibly for the present the reputational impact to the crown is restricted. The message from the institution was clearly that the revocation of honorifics was what the monarch, and particularly other senior family members, sought.

A Shift in Position

The cessation of pretence that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the short communication showed clearly that the monarchy were supporting the accuser's narrative of occurrences.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they ultimately showed consideration for the survivors: "The measures are considered essential, notwithstanding the reality that he persists in refuting the allegations against him."

Finally it is presumption, self-interest and inactivity that will undermine the crown. In his stupidity, self-indulgence and greed, Andrew seems never to have learned that lesson.