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The saga started with a single photograph, arguably the most significant ever snapped of a member of the monarchy.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, standing closely beside a young woman, while another individual beamed conspiratorially in the backdrop.

Without that snapshot, shot at a gathering in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a young woman who said she was trafficked across the sea and forced to have perfunctory relations with a prince of the royal bloodline?

A strange, indicative gesture by someone who had overtly claimed to have never known about her, claimed he could not have had intimate contact with her, and yet provided millions of his mother's resources to avert a protracted lawsuit.

A Long Period of Controversy

In this context, conversations of the royal family acting decisively to cut Andrew off are misguided. This affair has continued for the better part of 15 years since that photograph, and an additional snapshot of Andrew ambling amiably with a convicted sex offender surfaced.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his siblings, maybe even his relatives, realize that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his staff and the law enforcement were doing their jobs, that he had some highly questionable associates given he publicly hosted them to palaces.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with public money.

Travel were printed in official documents: chopper flights from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the benefit of "Airmiles Andy".

World of Deference

Then there was the entitlement which expected respect when he entered a space or the supreme awareness about his designations used on his letterheads in messages to his personal acquaintances.

He avoided accountability while his mother, who inexplicably spoiled him, was still alive. The Queen did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and honorary colonelcies in the consequence of his disastrous and, it is now clear, mendacious television interview six years ago.

Latest Events

It was only in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the issuance of books giving more troubling information of his conduct and that of his companions.

Additional revelations have again highlighted Andrew's assumption that he could get away with being untruthful about his interaction with a disgraced individual.

The public (and the media) were far ahead of the royal family. There was not a single person of any significance to defend him, a outcome of all those years of hubris.

Monarchical Concerns

The more intelligent monarchical figures understood that. The key objective is to transfer the institution, if not as heretofore at least whole and unblemished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to overcome the image of earlier rulers, demonstrating they are valuable, accountable and responsive to their subjects.

He was placing all that in danger in an age when respect and secrecy is no longer enough.

Aftermath

Eventually, the famously indecisive monarch was pressured more. There was no other option. The institution had lost control of the story.

Currently the stripping of designations and the ongoing and life-long personal shame that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just a commoner
• Past Example: The initial monarch to forfeit his honorifics in recent history
• Military Service: Particularly stinging given his duty in the Falklands war

He is still a counsellor of state, theoretically able to act for the king, and he is still in the lineage to the crown, but neither of these will actually happen.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he encounters still defer to him? Will they still forget themselves and call him Prince? Might they say Mr,

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

At that location, he will be furnished by the sovereign with one of the estate properties and given some form of financial support.

This differs from 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 adequate distance.

Outstanding Concerns

Matters remain unresolved. There are still files in the possession of overseas authorities to be revealed.

• Political Pressure: Might parliament request additional information
• Monetary Probe: Or investigate the waste of public money
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a criminal probe into his actions

Possibly for the time being the reputational impact to the crown is contained. The narrative from the palace was clearly that the revocation of honorifics was what the monarch, and especially other senior royals, wanted.

A Shift in Position

No more pretence that Andrew was acting willingly. And, significantly, the brief statement showed evidently that the monarchy were aligning with the accuser's version of events.

Even more, for the initial instance they eventually showed concern for the survivors: "These actions are judged required, despite the fact that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

Ultimately it is arrogance, self-seeking and inactivity that will destroy the institution. In his stupidity, self-gratification and greed, Andrew seems never to have grasped that lesson.