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It all began with a single photograph, possibly the most significant ever taken of a royal family member.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, with his arm around a young woman, while another individual grinned knowingly in the background.

Without that photograph, shot at a party in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a young woman who declared she was moved across the Atlantic and obliged to have cursory relations with a individual of the monarchy?

An odd, indicative action by someone who had publicly asserted to have never heard of her, asserted he could never have had intimate contact with her, and yet provided millions of monarchical resources to avert a drawn-out lawsuit.

A Long Period of Controversy

In this context, talk of the monarchy acting decisively to cut Andrew off are inaccurate. This affair has endured for the largest portion of 15 years since that photograph, and another image of Andrew ambling pleasantly with a disgraced financier came to light.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his relatives, understand that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Questionable Associations: They must have realized, if his employees and the law enforcement were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he unabashedly hosted them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with taxpayer funds.

Journeys were printed in official documents: helicopter travel from the royal residence to a golf course and back again in time for dining, private flights instead of regular transport, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the entitlement which demanded subservience when he walked into a space or the extreme consciousness about his honorifics used on his official documents in letters to his friends.

He could get away with it while his mother, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still living. The monarch did at least strip him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his catastrophic and, it is now clear, untruthful television interview six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the release of biographical works giving more grim particulars of his actions and that of his associates.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's belief that he could get away with deceiving about his interaction with a convicted criminal.

People (and the media) were far ahead of the royal family. There was not a single person of any significance to support him, a consequence of all those years of hubris.

Royal Worries

The more intelligent monarchical figures recognized that. The one imperative is to hand down the monarchy, if not as heretofore at least intact and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to overcome the legacy of previous monarchs, showing they are valuable, accountable and responsive to their citizens.

His actions endangered all that in peril in an time when deference and privacy is no longer adequate.

The Fallout

Eventually, the notoriously uncertain monarch was pressured further. There was no alternative. The institution had lost control of the story.

Now it is the loss of designations and the continued and life-long personal shame that will afflict Andrew the most.

• Reduction: Demoted to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The primary royal to lose his titles in recent history
• Military Service: Especially stinging given his role in the engagement

He is still a royal advisor, on paper able to act for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but neither of these will truly occur.

Coming Developments

Can persons he encounters still defer to him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Prince? Might they say Sir,

Naturally, he is not moving to a common area, but to the sovereign's vast estate at a monarchical property.

There, he will be furnished by the sovereign with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of private allowance.

This differs from his previous residence, where he paid a token payment for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit remote, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Outstanding Concerns

This is not over. There are still documents in the custody of overseas authorities to be made public.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Could parliament seek further action
• Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the improper use of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a police investigation into his conduct

Possibly for the present the reputational impact to the institution is contained. The statement from the institution was plainly that the revocation of titles was what the monarch, and especially other senior royals, sought.

Altered Approach

The cessation of illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, notably, the short communication showed evidently that the monarchy were aligning with the victim's account of occurrences.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they eventually showed concern for the affected individuals: "The censures are judged required, regardless of the fact that he persists in refuting the claims against him."

In the end it is entitlement, selfishness and indolence that will destroy the institution. In his stupidity, personal excess and greed, Andrew seems never to have grasped that truth.