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

There stood the Baron Killyleagh, with his arm around a young woman, while another individual grinned conspiratorially in the background.

Without that photograph, taken at a gathering in 2001, few would have credited the assertions of a adolescent who declared she was trafficked across the ocean and compelled to have cursory relations with a member of the royal bloodline?

A strange, revealing move by someone who had overtly stated to have no been aware of her, claimed he could not have had sex with her, and yet handed over a large amount of his mother's money to avert a long-delayed legal case.

A Long Period of Disgrace

Considering this, discussions of the monarchy acting swiftly to distance themselves from Andrew are wide of the mark. This scandal has persisted for the largest portion of 15 years since that picture, and another snapshot of Andrew strolling congenially with a disgraced financier came to light.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his family members, perhaps even his relatives, understand that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Questionable Associations: They must have realized, if his aides and the police were fulfilling their roles, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he publicly welcomed them to estates.
• Financial Extravagance: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Trips were printed in official documents: chopper travel from the estate to a country club and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of commercial flights, all for the comfort of "Airmiles Andy".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the presumption which expected deference when he walked into a area or the profound consciousness about his designations used on his letterheads in messages to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who strangely indulged him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least strip him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his ill-fated and, as revealed, mendacious television interview six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last two weeks that events accelerated, following the release of accounts giving more disturbing details of his actions and that of his associates.

More information have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could avoid being untruthful about his contact with a convicted criminal.

People (and the media) were far in advance of the royal family. There was not a single person of any significance to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of arrogance.

Institutional Fears

The wiser monarchical figures realized that. The primary concern is to hand down the crown, if not as before at least whole and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to overcome the legacy of earlier rulers, showing they are useful, accountable and reactive to their citizens.

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

Consequences

Eventually, the well-known indecisive monarch was prodded further. There was little choice. The palace had lost control of the narrative.

Presently the removal of honorifics and the persistent and permanent social disgrace that will afflict Andrew most deeply.

• Reduction: Lowered to just a commoner
• Prior Instance: The primary monarch to forfeit his designations in contemporary era
• Armed Forces: Particularly hurtful given his role in the Falklands war

He remains a constitutional officer, in principle able to stand in for the king, and he is still in the succession to the throne, but neither of these will ever happen.

What Lies Ahead

Will people he meets still defer to him? Could they still slip up and call him Your Highness? Will they even say Andrew,

Certainly, he is not retiring to suburbia, but to the sovereign's large property at a royal residence.

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

This differs from his prior accommodation, where he paid a minimal lease for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit distant, but even so it may not be far enough.

Outstanding Concerns

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

• Parliamentary Interest: Might lawmakers demand more
• Financial Investigation: Or examine the waste of public money
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a criminal probe into his behavior

Maybe for the time being the reputational impact to the crown is contained. The message from the institution was clearly that the stripping of designations was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior monarchical figures, wanted.

A Shift in Position

No more pretence that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the short communication showed evidently that the monarchy were aligning with the accuser's account of incidents.

Additionally, for the initial instance they finally showed regard for the affected individuals: "The measures are deemed necessary, regardless of the truth that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

Finally it is entitlement, self-interest and indolence that will undermine the monarchy. In his foolishness, personal excess and venality, Andrew seems never to have understood that truth.