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The saga started with a single photograph, possibly the most consequential ever captured of a member of the monarchy.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, with his arm around a female youth, while an associate beamed suggestively in the rear.

Without that image, shot at a party in 2001, few would have credited the claims of a teenager who declared she was trafficked across the sea and compelled to have perfunctory relations with a individual of the monarchy?

A strange, telling move by someone who had publicly asserted to have never heard of her, claimed he could never have had sex with her, and yet provided a large amount of his mother's funds to resolve a protracted lawsuit.

Years of Controversy

In this context, conversations of the monarchy acting firmly to distance themselves from Andrew are inaccurate. This controversy has continued for the largest portion of 15 years since that picture, and an additional image of Andrew walking amiably with a notorious individual surfaced.

• Self-importance: How long did his siblings, perhaps even his parents, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his employees and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he publicly invited them to palaces.
• Financial Extravagance: If the monarchy did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Trips were listed in royal annual reports: chopper travel from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, private flights instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

Existence of Entitlement

Additionally the entitlement which expected respect when he walked into a area or the profound awareness about his honorifics used on his official documents in communication to his associates.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who inexplicably pampered him, was still surviving. The Queen did at least strip him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the aftermath of his ill-fated and, we now know, deceptive media appearance six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last fortnight that events progressed rapidly, following the release of books giving more troubling information of his actions and that of his connections.

Additional revelations have again highlighted Andrew's assumption that he could avoid lying about his interaction with a convicted criminal.

Society (and the media) were far more perceptive of the royals. There was nobody of any significance to defend him, a outcome of all those years of arrogance.

Monarchical Concerns

The more intelligent family members realized that. The key objective is to transfer the institution, if not as previously at least complete and unstained.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to overcome the reputation of earlier rulers, proving they are valuable, dutiful and responsive to their subjects.

He was placing all that in danger in an time when deference and discretion is no longer adequate.

Aftermath

Eventually, the famously hesitant king was pushed more. There was no alternative. The palace had surrendered command of the story.

Now it is the removal of designations and the ongoing and permanent social disgrace that will afflict Andrew the most.

• Reduction: Reduced to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Prior Instance: The primary member to lose his designations in modern times
• Military Service: Particularly painful given his service in the conflict

He continues to be a constitutional officer, theoretically able to act for the sovereign, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but not any of these will actually occur.

Future Prospects

Can persons he meets still acknowledge him? Will they still slip up and call him Your Highness? Will they even say Andrew,

Of course, he is not withdrawing to suburbia, but to the sovereign's extensive estate at a royal residence.

In that place, he will be provided by the sovereign with one of the royal residences and given some form of private allowance.

This is not his previous residence, where he paid a token rent 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 records in the possession of US Congress to be made public.

• Political Pressure: Might parliament seek further action
• Monetary Probe: Or examine the improper use of taxpayer funds
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a police investigation into his behavior

Perhaps for the moment the reputational impact to the monarchy is restricted. The message from the palace was plainly that the removal of honorifics was what the monarch, and especially other senior royals, desired.

Altered Approach

No more illusion that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, remarkably, the brief statement showed clearly that the royals were siding with the victim's account of incidents.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they finally showed concern for the victims: "The censures are judged required, regardless of the fact that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."

Finally it is entitlement, selfishness and laziness that will destroy the institution. In his folly, personal excess and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that lesson.