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This episode commenced with a isolated photograph, perhaps the most significant ever captured of a royal family member.

In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a young woman, while another individual smiled suggestively in the background.

Without that snapshot, captured at a party in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the allegations of a teenager who said she was moved across the ocean and forced to have brief intimate contact with a individual of the monarchy?

An odd, revealing gesture by someone who had publicly stated to have not known about her, claimed he could no have had sex with her, and yet provided a large amount of his mother's money to settle a protracted court action.

Years of Scandal

Considering this, discussions of the monarchy acting decisively to distance themselves from Andrew are inaccurate. This affair has endured for the better part of 15 years since that picture, and a further image of Andrew ambling amiably with a notorious individual emerged.

• Hubris: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his parents, understand that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have known, if his staff and the police were doing their jobs, that he had some highly questionable companions given he openly invited them to palaces.
• Monetary Excess: If the household did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with public money.

Journeys were printed in official documents: chopper transfers from the estate to a golf course and back again in time for midday meal, private flights instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "the frequent flyer".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the arrogance which expected subservience when he walked into a space or the supreme obsession about his royal titles used on his correspondence in letters to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who strangely spoiled him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least revoke him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the wake of his ill-fated and, as revealed, untruthful public statement six years ago.

Recent Developments

Merely in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the release of biographical works giving more troubling details of his conduct and that of his associates.

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

People (and the media) were far more perceptive of the royal family. There was nobody of any importance to support him, a consequence of all those years of hubris.

Monarchical Concerns

The more astute monarchical figures understood that. The one imperative is to pass on the crown, if not as before at least intact and unstained.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to undo the legacy of earlier rulers, proving they are valuable, accountable and responsive to their citizens.

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

Aftermath

Finally, the famously hesitant sovereign was prodded further. There was no other option. The royal household had lost control of the account.

Now it is the loss of titles and the persistent and life-long social disgrace that will afflict Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Demoted to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Past Example: The primary monarch to forfeit his titles in recent history
• Naval Career: Especially stinging given his role in the Falklands war

He remains a royal advisor, in principle able to act for the king, and he is still eighth in line to the monarchy, but neither of these will actually come to pass.

Coming Developments

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

Certainly, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the royal family's vast property at Sandringham.

There, he will be provided by the sovereign with one of the royal residences and given some type of private allowance.

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

Unresolved Issues

This is not over. There are still documents in the custody of American legislators to be disclosed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Could parliament demand more
• Fiscal Review: Or investigate the improper use of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a police investigation into his actions

Perhaps for the time being the reputational impact to the monarchy is restricted. The message from the royal household was clearly that the stripping of titles was what the king, and notably other senior family members, wanted.

Changed Stance

An end to pretence that Andrew was acting willingly. And, notably, the brief announcement showed evidently that the monarchy were aligning with the complainant's account of incidents.

Even more, for the first time they ultimately showed consideration for the victims: "The measures are considered essential, despite the truth that he persists in refuting the allegations against him."

Ultimately it is presumption, self-interest and laziness that will undermine the monarchy. In his foolishness, self-gratification and greed, Andrew gives the impression never to have grasped that truth.