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

Present was the Earl of Inverness, with his arm around a young woman, while another individual grinned knowingly in the background.

Lacking that snapshot, captured at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the claims of a young woman who said she was transported across the ocean and forced to have brief intimate contact with a individual of the royal bloodline?

A strange, indicative gesture by someone who had overtly claimed to have no been aware of her, claimed he could not have had relations with her, and yet handed over millions of his mother's funds to resolve a long-delayed legal case.

A Long Period of Scandal

In this context, talk of the royal family acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This scandal has persisted for the better part of 15 years since that picture, and an additional image of Andrew ambling amiably with a convicted sex offender came to light.

• Self-importance: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his mother and father, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his employees and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some highly questionable friends given he unabashedly hosted them to estates.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Travel were printed in official documents: helicopter transfers from the palace to a country club and back again in time for lunch, exclusive air travel instead of regular transport, all for the benefit of "Airmiles Andy".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the presumption which required subservience when he walked into a area or the extreme obsession about his designations used on his correspondence in messages to his associates.

He avoided accountability while his matriarch, who strangely indulged him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least strip him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the wake of his catastrophic and, as revealed, untruthful public statement six years ago.

Current Situation

Merely in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the issuance of biographical works giving more troubling details of his behavior and that of his connections.

More information have again revealed Andrew's thinking that he could get away with lying about his relationship with a disgraced individual.

People (and the media) were far in advance of the royals. There was nobody of any importance to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of hubris.

Institutional Fears

The more astute family members realized that. The primary concern is to transfer the crown, if not as previously at least complete and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to overcome the reputation of past sovereigns, demonstrating they are beneficial, dutiful and attentive to their people.

He was placing all that in danger in an era when submission and discretion is no longer sufficient.

Aftermath

Eventually, the famously uncertain monarch was pushed more. There was little choice. The palace had surrendered command of the story.

Now it is the removal of titles and the continued and permanent social disgrace that will hurt Andrew most deeply.

• Reduction: Demoted to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Past Example: The first monarch to forfeit his titles in recent history
• Military Service: Particularly painful given his role in the conflict

He continues to be a constitutional officer, theoretically able to substitute for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the throne, but neither of these will ever happen.

Coming Developments

Do individuals he comes across still show respect to him? Will they still slip up and call him Your Highness? Will they even say Sir,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to a common area, but to the monarchy's large property at a monarchical property.

At that location, he will be furnished by the monarch with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of financial support.

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

Unresolved Issues

The situation continues. There are still files in the hands of overseas authorities to be disclosed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Will legislators request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or examine the improper use of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a criminal probe into his actions

Maybe for the present the institutional damage to the monarchy is contained. The narrative from the palace was clearly that the removal of designations was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior monarchical figures, desired.

A Shift in Position

The cessation of illusion that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, remarkably, the brief communication showed clearly that the monarchy were siding with the victim's narrative of occurrences.

Additionally, for the initial instance they finally showed consideration for the affected individuals: "The measures are considered essential, despite the truth that he continues to deny the allegations against him."

Ultimately it is presumption, selfishness and inactivity that will undermine the institution. In his folly, personal excess and venality, Andrew appears never to have learned that truth.