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This episode commenced with a single photograph, perhaps the most consequential ever captured of a member of the monarchy.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, arm-in-arm a teenage girl, while an associate smiled knowingly in the rear.

Absent that image, taken at a party in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the assertions of a young woman who said she was trafficked across the Atlantic and obliged to have brief sexual encounters with a prince of the royal family?

An odd, telling gesture by someone who had overtly claimed to have never heard of her, claimed he could no have had sex with her, and yet provided a large amount of family funds to resolve a drawn-out lawsuit.

A Long Period of Scandal

In this context, conversations of the monarchy acting firmly to cut Andrew off are inaccurate. This scandal has continued for the majority of 15 years since that image, and an additional snapshot of Andrew ambling amiably with a disgraced financier emerged.

• Self-importance: How long did his family members, possibly even his parents, understand that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Questionable Associations: They must have realized, if his aides and the police were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory associates given he openly welcomed them to royal residences.
• Monetary Excess: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with public money.

Trips were documented in royal annual reports: private aircraft travel from the palace to a country club and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of commercial flights, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

World of Deference

Additionally the presumption which demanded deference when he entered a area or the extreme obsession about his honorifics used on his official documents in letters to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who strangely spoiled him, was still living. The Queen did at least remove him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his ill-fated and, we now know, deceptive media appearance six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the issuance of accounts giving more disturbing particulars of his actions and that of his connections.

Additional revelations have again revealed Andrew's thinking that he could avoid being untruthful about his interaction with a disgraced individual.

People (and the journalists) were far more perceptive of the monarchy. 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 more astute royals recognized that. The one imperative is to hand down the monarchy, if not as previously at least whole and unblemished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to overcome the legacy of previous monarchs, showing they are beneficial, dutiful and responsive to their people.

He was placing all that in jeopardy in an time when respect and discretion is no longer adequate.

The Fallout

Ultimately, the famously indecisive monarch was pressured further. There was no alternative. The institution had surrendered command of the account.

Currently the loss of titles and the persistent and lifetime social disgrace that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Reduction: Reduced to just a private citizen
• Past Example: The initial monarch to forfeit his honorifics in recent history
• Naval Career: Especially hurtful given his duty in the conflict

He continues to be a counsellor of state, theoretically able to substitute for the king, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but not any of these will actually happen.

What Lies Ahead

Will people he encounters still acknowledge him? Will they still forget themselves and call him Prince? Would they say Andrew,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to a common area, but to the royal family's extensive estate at a royal residence.

In that place, he will be provided by the sovereign with one of the grace and favour houses and given some type of private allowance.

This differs from his previous residence, where he paid a nominal lease for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit distant, but even so it may not be far enough.

Unresolved Issues

Matters remain unresolved. There are still records in the custody of US Congress to be made public.

• Parliamentary Interest: Will lawmakers demand more
• Financial Investigation: Or scrutinize the misuse of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Possibly for the moment the reputational impact to the crown is restricted. The narrative from the institution was plainly that the stripping of titles was what the king, and especially other senior family members, wanted.

A Shift in Position

An end to pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, notably, the concise statement showed plainly that the institution were siding with the complainant's narrative of incidents.

Furthermore, for the initial instance they finally showed regard for the affected individuals: "These actions are deemed necessary, regardless of the reality that he continues to deny the accusations against him."

Finally it is entitlement, selfishness and laziness that will kill the crown. In his foolishness, personal excess and venality, Andrew appears never to have understood that truth.