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This episode commenced with a isolated photograph, arguably the most impactful ever taken of a individual from the royal household.

Present was the Baron Killyleagh, arm-in-arm a female youth, while an associate grinned conspiratorially in the backdrop.

Absent that snapshot, taken at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the allegations of a young woman who declared she was trafficked across the sea and forced to have perfunctory relations with a individual of the monarchy?

A curious, telling move by someone who had overtly claimed to have never been aware of her, said he could never have had sex with her, and yet handed over a substantial sum of monarchical funds to resolve a long-delayed court action.

Years of Scandal

Against this backdrop, conversations of the royal family acting firmly to cut Andrew off are inaccurate. This controversy has endured for the better part of 15 years since that photograph, and another photo of Andrew walking pleasantly with a notorious individual came to light.

• Self-importance: How long did his family members, perhaps even his mother and father, understand that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Questionable Associations: They must have known, if his aides and the law enforcement were performing their duties, that he had some extremely unsavory associates given he publicly welcomed them to palaces.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with state resources.

Journeys were listed in official documents: helicopter flights from the estate to a country club and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Then there was the arrogance which expected deference when he walked into a room or the profound awareness about his royal titles used on his official documents in messages to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who inexplicably pampered him, was still living. The monarch did at least remove him of official roles and military positions in the wake of his catastrophic and, we now know, deceptive television interview six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last two weeks that events sped up, following the release of books giving more disturbing information of his behavior and that of his connections.

Additional revelations have again exposed Andrew's belief that he could escape deceiving about his relationship with a convicted criminal.

People (and the press) were far in advance of the royals. There was no one of any consequence to defend him, a result of all those years of hubris.

Institutional Fears

The wiser family members recognized that. The one imperative is to hand down the monarchy, if not as before at least complete and unstained.

For generations the last 190 years trying to undo the reputation of earlier rulers, showing they are valuable, accountable and reactive to their citizens.

He was placing all that in jeopardy in an age when submission and privacy is no longer adequate.

The Fallout

Ultimately, the well-known uncertain sovereign was prodded additional. There was no alternative. The palace had lost control of the account.

Now it is the removal of designations and the persistent and life-long personal shame that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Demoted to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The primary member to forfeit his designations in modern times
• Naval Career: Particularly hurtful given his service in the conflict

He remains a counsellor of state, theoretically able to act for the king, and he is still in the succession to the monarchy, but not any of these will ever occur.

What Lies Ahead

Do individuals he meets still defer to him? Could they still make mistakes and call him Prince? Might they say Andrew,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to a common area, but to the royal family's vast grounds at Sandringham.

In that place, he will be supplied by the king with one of the royal residences and given some type of private allowance.

This is not his previous residence, where he paid a token lease for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit distant, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Pending Matters

The situation continues. There are still files in the hands of US Congress to be revealed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Will parliament request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or investigate the waste of public money
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a criminal probe into his conduct

Maybe for the present the institutional damage to the institution is limited. The statement from the palace was evidently that the revocation of designations was what the monarch, and particularly other senior royals, sought.

A Shift in Position

No more illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the brief communication showed evidently that the monarchy were siding with the victim's narrative of incidents.

Even more, for the first time they eventually showed consideration for the affected individuals: "The censures are considered essential, notwithstanding the truth that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."

In the end it is presumption, self-interest and indolence that will destroy the crown. In his folly, self-gratification and greed, Andrew appears never to have grasped that reality.