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

Present was the Baron Killyleagh, with his arm around a young woman, while a companion grinned suggestively in the rear.

Without that snapshot, shot at a social event in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the claims of a young woman who stated she was transported across the ocean and compelled to have cursory relations with a individual of the monarchy?

A curious, revealing move by someone who had overtly asserted to have no been aware of her, said he could no have had relations with her, and yet provided a substantial sum of monarchical resources to settle a drawn-out court action.

A Long Period of Disgrace

Considering this, conversations of the royal family acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are misguided. This scandal has endured for the majority of 15 years since that picture, and another photo of Andrew walking congenially with a convicted sex offender emerged.

• Self-importance: How long did his family members, maybe even his relatives, realize that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Problematic Connections: They must have understood, if his aides and the law enforcement were fulfilling their roles, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he openly welcomed them to estates.
• Monetary Excess: If the household did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with public money.

Trips were printed in public records: helicopter travel from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "the travel enthusiast".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the entitlement which expected deference when he appeared in a space or the extreme consciousness about his designations used on his official documents in messages to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still living. The Queen did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and honorary colonelcies in the wake of his catastrophic and, as revealed, deceptive television interview six years ago.

Latest Events

It was only in the last fortnight that events sped up, following the publication of biographical works giving more grim information of his conduct and that of his companions.

Additional revelations have again revealed Andrew's belief that he could escape being untruthful about his contact with a disgraced individual.

The public (and the journalists) were far ahead of the royals. There was nobody of any significance to support him, a consequence of all those years of presumption.

Royal Worries

The wiser family members understood that. The one imperative is to pass on the institution, if not as heretofore at least complete and untarnished.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to undo the reputation of earlier rulers, demonstrating they are valuable, accountable and attentive to their subjects.

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

The Fallout

Finally, the well-known uncertain sovereign was prodded further. There was no alternative. The royal household had relinquished authority of the story.

Currently the stripping of honorifics and the continued and permanent personal shame that will afflict Andrew most deeply.

• Reduction: Lowered to just a commoner
• Past Example: The first monarch to lose his titles in contemporary era
• Military Service: Especially stinging given his duty in the engagement

He continues to be a royal advisor, in principle able to substitute for the sovereign, and he is still in the lineage to the monarchy, but neither of these will truly happen.

Future Prospects

Do individuals he comes across still show respect to him? Could they still slip up and call him Prince? Might they say Mr,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the royal family's large property at a royal residence.

In that place, he will be provided 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 token lease for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit far, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Pending Matters

Matters remain unresolved. There are still documents in the possession of US Congress to be revealed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Might lawmakers seek further action
• Monetary Probe: Or examine the improper use of public money
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his actions

Maybe for the time being the harm to the monarchy to the monarchy is restricted. The narrative from the institution was evidently that the revocation of designations was what the king, and notably other senior family members, wanted.

Changed Stance

The cessation of illusion that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the concise announcement showed evidently that the royals were aligning with the accuser's account of occurrences.

Additionally, for the first time they ultimately showed consideration for the survivors: "The censures are deemed necessary, despite the fact that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."

In the end it is entitlement, self-interest and laziness that will destroy the institution. In his folly, personal excess and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have grasped that reality.