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The saga started with a single photograph, possibly the most consequential ever captured of a royal family member.

Present was the Duke of York, standing closely beside a young woman, while an associate smiled knowingly in the backdrop.

Without that image, captured at a party in 2001, few would have credited the claims of a young woman who stated she was transported across the Atlantic and compelled to have perfunctory intimate contact with a prince of the monarchy?

A strange, telling move by someone who had openly claimed to have not been aware of her, said he could no have had intimate contact with her, and yet provided a substantial sum of family money to resolve a drawn-out court action.

Over a Decade of Controversy

In this context, talk of the royal family acting decisively to cut Andrew off are wide of the mark. This controversy has endured for the better part of 15 years since that picture, and a further photo of Andrew strolling pleasantly with a disgraced financier came to light.

• Self-importance: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his mother and father, understand that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Questionable Associations: They must have understood, if his employees and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he openly welcomed them to palaces.
• Financial Extravagance: If the monarchy did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Travel were listed in public records: private aircraft flights from the royal residence to a golf course and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of commercial flights, all for the convenience of "the travel enthusiast".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the entitlement which expected respect when he walked into a room or the supreme obsession about his designations used on his letterheads in communication to his associates.

He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who inexplicably spoiled him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the aftermath of his ill-fated and, we now know, untruthful public statement six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last fortnight that events sped up, following the publication of books giving more troubling information of his conduct and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could avoid lying about his relationship with a convicted criminal.

Society (and the journalists) were far more perceptive of the royal family. There was no one of any consequence to support him, a result of all those years of hubris.

Institutional Fears

The wiser family members recognized that. The primary concern is to transfer the institution, if not as before at least whole and unblemished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the image of previous monarchs, proving they are valuable, responsible and reactive to their people.

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

Consequences

Eventually, the famously indecisive king was pressured further. There was no other option. The institution had relinquished authority of the story.

Now it is the removal of honorifics and the ongoing and permanent public humiliation that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Reduction: Demoted to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The primary royal to lose his designations in modern times
• Military Service: Especially painful given his service in the Falklands war

He remains a counsellor of state, in principle able to act for the monarch, and he is still in the lineage to the monarchy, but neither of these will truly come to pass.

Coming Developments

Can persons he meets still acknowledge him? Could they still make mistakes and call him Sir? Will they even say Mr,

Of course, he is not withdrawing to a common area, but to the sovereign's large grounds at Sandringham.

In that place, he will be furnished by the sovereign with one of the royal residences and given some sort of personal stipend.

This is not his former home, where he paid a token payment for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit far, but even so it may not be far enough.

Pending Matters

This is not over. There are still files in the custody of US Congress to be revealed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Could lawmakers request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or investigate the improper use of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a criminal probe into his actions

Perhaps for the present the reputational impact to the monarchy is restricted. The narrative from the palace was plainly that the revocation of designations was what the king, and especially other senior royals, wanted.

Changed Stance

No more illusion that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, notably, the concise communication showed evidently that the royals were supporting the accuser's account of occurrences.

Even more, for the first time they finally showed consideration for the survivors: "These actions are deemed necessary, despite the reality that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

Finally it is entitlement, self-seeking and indolence that will undermine the crown. In his foolishness, self-gratification and greed, Andrew appears never to have learned that truth.