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This episode commenced with a solitary 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 beamed conspiratorially in the background.

Lacking that image, captured at a social event in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the allegations of a teenager who said she was trafficked across the ocean and compelled to have perfunctory relations with a prince of the royal bloodline?

An odd, telling action by someone who had publicly stated to have no known about her, said he could not have had sex with her, and yet provided a large amount of family funds to settle a protracted legal case.

A Long Period of Controversy

In this context, discussions of the royals acting swiftly to cut Andrew off are inaccurate. This scandal has continued for the better part of 15 years since that picture, and an additional photo of Andrew ambling amiably with a convicted sex offender emerged.

• Self-importance: How long did his brothers and sisters, maybe even his relatives, know that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Questionable Associations: They must have known, if his staff and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory associates given he openly invited them to royal residences.
• Financial Extravagance: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with state resources.

Travel were listed in royal annual reports: private aircraft flights from the palace to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, chartered planes instead of regular transport, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the presumption which expected deference when he walked into a area or the supreme consciousness about his designations used on his official documents in letters to his personal acquaintances.

He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who inexplicably indulged him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least strip him of official roles and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his catastrophic and, it is now clear, deceptive media appearance six years ago.

Latest Events

Just in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the issuance of biographical works giving more troubling particulars of his actions and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could avoid deceiving about his relationship with a disgraced individual.

The public (and the press) were far ahead of the monarchy. There was not a single person of any importance to support him, a consequence of all those years of hubris.

Monarchical Concerns

The more astute family members understood that. The key objective is to hand down the monarchy, if not as before at least complete and untarnished.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of past sovereigns, proving they are valuable, dutiful and responsive to their citizens.

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

Consequences

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

Currently the loss of designations and the continued and lifetime public humiliation that will pain Andrew the most.

• Demotion: Reduced to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The first monarch to forfeit his honorifics in modern times
• Military Service: Especially hurtful given his role in the Falklands war

He is still a royal advisor, in principle able to act for the monarch, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but none of these will ever happen.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he comes across still show respect to him? Could they still make mistakes and call him Prince? Might they say Andrew,

Naturally, he is not moving to a common area, but to the royal family's extensive estate at Sandringham.

There, he will be supplied by the monarch with one of the royal residences and given some sort of financial support.

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

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still files in the possession of overseas authorities to be made public.

• Political Pressure: Could legislators request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or examine the misuse of public money
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Maybe for the moment the reputational impact to the crown is contained. The message from the palace was clearly that the revocation of designations was what the sovereign, and especially other senior royals, sought.

Changed Stance

No more deception that Andrew was acting willingly. And, remarkably, the short statement showed plainly that the monarchy were siding with the complainant's version of events.

Additionally, for the premiere occasion they ultimately showed consideration for the affected individuals: "The censures are considered essential, despite the truth that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."

Ultimately it is arrogance, self-interest and inactivity that will kill the monarchy. In his folly, personal excess and corruption, Andrew appears never to have learned that reality.