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The saga started with a single photograph, possibly the most consequential ever taken of a member of the monarchy.

Present was the Earl of Inverness, with his arm around a female youth, while a companion beamed conspiratorially in the background.

Absent that image, shot at a party in 2001, who would have believed the allegations of a teenager who stated she was transported across the sea and compelled to have cursory relations with a member of the monarchy?

A strange, telling move by someone who had publicly stated to have no been aware of her, said he could never have had relations with her, and yet handed over a substantial sum of family money to avert a long-delayed court action.

Over a Decade of Disgrace

Considering this, talk of the royal family acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This scandal has continued for the majority of 15 years since that photograph, and an additional photo of Andrew ambling amiably with a disgraced financier surfaced.

• Self-importance: How long did his brothers and sisters, maybe even his relatives, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his employees and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory associates given he openly welcomed them to estates.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Trips were documented in royal annual reports: helicopter transfers from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of commercial flights, all for the convenience of "the frequent flyer".

A Life of Privilege

Furthermore the arrogance which expected respect when he walked into a area or the supreme awareness about his designations used on his official documents in letters to his friends.

He could get away with it while his mother, who unaccountably indulged him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least remove him of public duties and military positions in the consequence of his disastrous and, as revealed, mendacious media appearance six years ago.

Latest Events

Just in the last two weeks that events accelerated, following the issuance of biographical works giving more grim details of his behavior and that of his companions.

More information have again revealed Andrew's belief that he could get away with being untruthful about his relationship with a convicted criminal.

People (and the media) were far ahead of the monarchy. There was no one of any significance to support him, a result of all those years of hubris.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser monarchical figures realized that. The primary concern is to hand down the institution, if not as before at least complete and untarnished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to overcome the legacy of earlier rulers, showing they are valuable, dutiful and responsive to their people.

His actions endangered all that in peril in an age when respect and secrecy is no longer adequate.

Consequences

Eventually, the notoriously indecisive monarch was prodded further. There was no alternative. The royal household had relinquished authority of the story.

Presently the removal of titles and the persistent and lifetime personal shame that will pain Andrew most deeply.

• Reduction: Reduced to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Past Example: The primary royal to lose his designations in recent history
• Military Service: Notably stinging given his role in the conflict

He remains a royal advisor, theoretically able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still in the lineage to the crown, but none of these will actually come to pass.

Coming Developments

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

Naturally, he is not retiring to an ordinary town, but to the royal family's large grounds at Sandringham.

In that place, he will be provided by the sovereign with one of the royal residences and given some sort of private allowance.

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

Outstanding Concerns

This is not over. There are still documents in the custody of overseas authorities to be disclosed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Will legislators seek further action
• Financial Investigation: Or scrutinize the improper use of taxpayer funds
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his actions

Perhaps for the present the harm to the monarchy to the crown is contained. The statement from the palace was clearly that the revocation of honorifics was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior monarchical figures, sought.

Changed Stance

No more pretence that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, significantly, the short statement showed evidently that the monarchy were supporting the victim's narrative of incidents.

Furthermore, for the initial instance they finally showed regard for the survivors: "The censures are judged required, notwithstanding the reality that he continues to deny the accusations against him."

Finally it is entitlement, self-seeking and inactivity that will destroy the monarchy. In his stupidity, personal excess and venality, Andrew seems never to have grasped that lesson.