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The saga started with a isolated photograph, arguably the most consequential ever captured of a individual from the royal household.

There stood the Duke of York, with his arm around a female youth, while a companion grinned knowingly in the backdrop.

Without that image, taken at a gathering in 2001, who would have believed the claims of a adolescent who said she was transported across the ocean and obliged to have perfunctory intimate contact with a individual of the royal bloodline?

A strange, revealing action by someone who had publicly stated to have no known about her, said he could not have had relations with her, and yet handed over a large amount of his mother's money to avert a protracted lawsuit.

Years of Controversy

Considering this, talk of the monarchy acting swiftly to cut Andrew off are wide of the mark. This affair has endured for the majority of 15 years since that photograph, and an additional snapshot of Andrew ambling amiably with a notorious individual emerged.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his family members, maybe even his mother and father, realize that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his aides and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he unabashedly invited them to palaces.
• Financial Extravagance: If the family did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with public money.

Travel were printed in public records: chopper flights from the estate to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "the frequent flyer".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the presumption which expected deference when he entered a area or the extreme consciousness about his honorifics used on his official documents in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He avoided accountability while his matriarch, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still alive. The Queen did at least remove him of public duties and honorary colonelcies in the consequence of his ill-fated and, as revealed, deceptive television interview six years ago.

Latest Events

Just in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the release of biographical works giving more disturbing particulars of his conduct and that of his connections.

Additional revelations have again revealed Andrew's belief that he could avoid lying about his relationship with a notorious figure.

People (and the media) were far ahead of the royals. There was not a single person of any significance to defend him, a result of all those years of hubris.

Institutional Fears

The wiser monarchical figures realized that. The one imperative is to transfer the institution, if not as previously at least intact and untarnished.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of past sovereigns, demonstrating they are useful, accountable and reactive to their people.

His actions endangered all that in peril in an era when respect and discretion is no longer sufficient.

The Fallout

Eventually, the famously uncertain monarch was prodded further. There was no other option. The royal household had surrendered command of the story.

Now it is the loss of designations and the ongoing and lifetime social disgrace that will hurt Andrew most deeply.

• Reduction: Lowered to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The initial member to surrender his titles in contemporary era
• Military Service: Particularly painful given his duty in the conflict

He is still a constitutional officer, theoretically able to act for the king, and he is still eighth in line to the monarchy, but none of these will ever happen.

Coming Developments

Will people he meets still acknowledge him? Could they still make mistakes and call him Prince? Might they say Sir,

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

In that place, he will be furnished by the sovereign with one of the grace and favour houses and given some form of financial support.

This is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a minimal rent for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit remote, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Unresolved Issues

Matters remain unresolved. There are still records in the hands of overseas authorities to be made public.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Could parliament seek further action
• Financial Investigation: Or examine the misuse of taxpayer funds
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a police investigation into his actions

Maybe for the moment the institutional damage to the institution is contained. The message from the institution was evidently that the removal of titles was what the king, and especially other senior family members, desired.

Changed Stance

An end to pretence that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, remarkably, the brief announcement showed plainly that the institution were siding with the accuser's account of events.

Additionally, for the initial instance they finally showed regard for the affected individuals: "The measures are judged required, regardless of the fact that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."

Ultimately it is presumption, self-interest and inactivity that will destroy the monarchy. In his folly, personal excess and venality, Andrew appears never to have grasped that truth.