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

Present was the Duke of York, with his arm around a teenage girl, while an associate beamed knowingly in the background.

Absent that snapshot, taken at a gathering in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a teenager who said she was transported across the Atlantic and compelled to have brief intimate contact with a individual of the monarchy?

A strange, indicative move by someone who had openly asserted to have never been aware of her, said he could not have had relations with her, and yet provided millions of family money to resolve a protracted court action.

A Long Period of Scandal

In this context, discussions of the royal family acting swiftly to cut Andrew off are inaccurate. This affair has continued for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and another photo of Andrew walking pleasantly with a convicted sex offender surfaced.

• Self-importance: To what extent did his siblings, possibly even his mother and father, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his employees and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable friends given he openly welcomed them to royal residences.
• Monetary Excess: If the household did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Travel were documented in official documents: helicopter travel from the palace to a golf course and back again in time for midday meal, private flights instead of scheduled services, all for the comfort of "the frequent flyer".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the arrogance which demanded subservience when he appeared in a area or the extreme awareness about his designations used on his letterheads in letters to his associates.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who strangely pampered him, was still alive. The Queen did at least remove him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the aftermath of his ill-fated and, we now know, deceptive television interview six years ago.

Recent Developments

It was only in the last fortnight that events accelerated, following the issuance of accounts giving more disturbing particulars of his conduct and that of his companions.

More information have again exposed Andrew's belief that he could escape deceiving about his interaction with a notorious figure.

The public (and the journalists) were far ahead of the royal family. There was nobody of any consequence to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of hubris.

Institutional Fears

The more intelligent monarchical figures recognized that. The key objective is to pass on the monarchy, if not as before at least whole and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of previous monarchs, showing they are beneficial, accountable and reactive to their people.

His actions endangered all that in danger in an time when deference and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

Aftermath

Finally, the famously indecisive monarch was pushed more. There was no other option. The institution had surrendered command of the account.

Presently the loss of designations and the persistent and lifetime personal shame that will pain Andrew most deeply.

• Reduction: Demoted to just a private citizen
• Past Example: The primary monarch to forfeit his honorifics in recent history
• Military Service: Particularly stinging given his role in the engagement

He continues to be a counsellor of state, theoretically able to stand in for the sovereign, and he is still in the lineage to the throne, but neither of these will ever happen.

Coming Developments

Will people he encounters still show respect to him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Would they say Sir,

Naturally, he is not moving to an ordinary town, but to the royal family's extensive grounds at a monarchical property.

At that location, he will be provided by the king with one of the royal residences and given some type of financial support.

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

Pending Matters

Matters remain unresolved. There are still records in the hands of American legislators to be revealed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Might lawmakers seek further action
• Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the misuse of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Possibly for the time being the reputational impact to the monarchy is contained. The narrative from the institution was evidently that the removal of designations was what the sovereign, and notably other senior monarchical figures, desired.

A Shift in Position

An end to pretence that Andrew was acting willingly. And, significantly, the brief announcement showed plainly that the institution were supporting the complainant's narrative of incidents.

Furthermore, for the premiere occasion they eventually showed regard for the victims: "These actions are deemed necessary, regardless of the reality that he continues to deny the claims against him."

In the end it is arrogance, selfishness and inactivity that will destroy the monarchy. In his stupidity, self-gratification and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that truth.