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It all began with a isolated photograph, arguably the most significant ever taken of a member of the monarchy.

There stood the Baron Killyleagh, standing closely beside a female youth, while another individual grinned conspiratorially in the backdrop.

Lacking that image, shot at a party in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the allegations of a adolescent who said she was trafficked across the ocean and compelled to have brief sexual encounters with a member of the royal bloodline?

A curious, revealing action by someone who had openly claimed to have no known about her, said he could no have had intimate contact with her, and yet handed over a large amount of family resources to resolve a long-delayed lawsuit.

A Long Period of Disgrace

Against this backdrop, talk of the royals acting firmly to cut Andrew off are inaccurate. This controversy has continued for the better part of 15 years since that image, and a further image of Andrew ambling pleasantly with a notorious individual emerged.

• Hubris: To what extent did his siblings, maybe even his relatives, understand that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his staff and the police were performing their duties, that he had some highly questionable companions given he publicly hosted them to palaces.
• Monetary Excess: If the family did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Travel were listed in royal annual reports: chopper travel from the palace to a sporting venue and back again in time for dining, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "the frequent flyer".

World of Deference

Then there was the presumption which required deference when he walked into a space or the supreme consciousness about his designations used on his official documents in messages to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who inexplicably spoiled him, was still living. The Queen did at least strip him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the consequence of his disastrous and, it is now clear, mendacious media appearance six years ago.

Latest Events

Just in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the publication of biographical works giving more grim details of his conduct and that of his companions.

Further disclosures have again revealed Andrew's assumption that he could avoid deceiving about his relationship with a convicted criminal.

Society (and the media) were far in advance of the monarchy. There was not a single person of any significance to support him, a consequence of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The more astute family members recognized that. The key objective is to pass on the institution, if not as previously at least intact and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the image of past sovereigns, showing they are useful, accountable and reactive to their people.

His actions endangered all that in jeopardy in an age when respect and discretion is no longer adequate.

Consequences

Ultimately, the well-known hesitant king was pressured more. There was little choice. The institution had relinquished authority of the story.

Now it is the removal of designations and the persistent and permanent public humiliation that will hurt Andrew most deeply.

• Reduction: Lowered to just a private citizen
• Historical Precedent: The first member to surrender his designations in contemporary era
• Armed Forces: Notably stinging given his role in the engagement

He is still a royal advisor, in principle able to stand in for the king, and he is still eighth in line to the crown, but none of these will actually happen.

Coming Developments

Will people he encounters still defer to him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Prince? Would they say Mr,

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

There, he will be provided by the king with one of the estate properties and given some type of private allowance.

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

Outstanding Concerns

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

• Political Pressure: Could legislators demand more
• Financial Investigation: Or scrutinize the waste of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a police investigation into his conduct

Maybe for the time being the institutional damage to the institution is contained. The narrative from the royal household was clearly that the removal of titles was what the king, and especially other senior monarchical figures, sought.

Altered Approach

No more deception that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, remarkably, the brief statement showed plainly that the institution were siding with the victim's narrative of occurrences.

Furthermore, for the first time they eventually showed consideration for the affected individuals: "These actions are considered essential, despite the reality that he persists in refuting the accusations against him."

Ultimately it is presumption, self-interest and laziness that will kill the crown. In his folly, personal excess and venality, Andrew seems never to have understood that reality.