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This episode commenced with a single photograph, possibly the most consequential ever taken of a royal family member.

Present was the Baron Killyleagh, standing closely beside a female youth, while another individual beamed suggestively in the backdrop.

Absent that photograph, captured at a party in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a young woman who stated she was trafficked across the sea and compelled to have brief relations with a member of the royal bloodline?

An odd, revealing gesture by someone who had publicly stated to have not heard of her, claimed he could never have had relations with her, and yet paid millions of monarchical resources to resolve a protracted lawsuit.

Years of Scandal

In this context, discussions of the royal family acting firmly to cut Andrew off are misguided. This controversy has persisted for the majority of 15 years since that photograph, and another photo of Andrew ambling pleasantly with a disgraced financier surfaced.

• Arrogance: How long did his brothers and sisters, perhaps even his parents, understand that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his aides and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he openly hosted them to palaces.
• Financial Extravagance: If the household did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his extravagance with public money.

Trips were printed in royal annual reports: private aircraft transfers from the estate to a sporting venue and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of regular transport, all for the comfort of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Additionally the entitlement which demanded deference when he entered a room or the profound consciousness about his designations used on his correspondence in communication to his friends.

He avoided accountability while his matriarch, who strangely pampered him, was still surviving. The monarch did at least strip him of public duties and honorary colonelcies in the wake of his catastrophic and, we now know, mendacious television interview six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last fortnight that events sped up, following the issuance of books giving more troubling particulars of his actions and that of his connections.

Additional revelations have again highlighted Andrew's belief that he could avoid being untruthful about his contact with a notorious figure.

People (and the press) were far in advance of the monarchy. There was nobody of any significance to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of arrogance.

Institutional Fears

The more astute royals recognized that. The one imperative is to pass on the crown, if not as previously at least complete and unblemished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of previous monarchs, proving they are useful, responsible and responsive to their citizens.

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

Consequences

Eventually, the notoriously indecisive king was pressured more. There was little choice. The palace had surrendered command of the story.

Currently the removal of designations and the persistent and lifetime personal shame that will afflict Andrew most deeply.

• Demotion: Demoted to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The primary member to forfeit his designations in recent history
• Naval Career: Especially stinging given his service in the conflict

He remains a royal advisor, in principle able to act for the monarch, and he is still eighth in line to the monarchy, but not any of these will truly come to pass.

Coming Developments

Do individuals he encounters still acknowledge him? Could they still slip up and call him Prince? Will they even say Andrew,

Certainly, he is not retiring to a common area, but to the sovereign's vast grounds at a royal residence.

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

This differs from his previous residence, where he paid a token lease for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit remote, but even so it may not be far enough.

Outstanding Concerns

Matters remain unresolved. There are still documents in the hands of US Congress to be revealed.

• Political Pressure: Might legislators demand more
• Fiscal Review: Or examine the improper use of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Possibly for the moment the harm to the monarchy to the institution is contained. The message from the royal household was evidently that the stripping of titles was what the king, and especially other senior royals, desired.

Altered Approach

The cessation of deception that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the brief communication showed plainly that the monarchy were supporting the victim's narrative of incidents.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they finally showed concern for the victims: "The measures are deemed necessary, despite the truth that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

Ultimately it is presumption, self-interest and laziness that will destroy the crown. In his folly, personal excess and greed, Andrew seems never to have learned that reality.