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The saga started with a single photograph, possibly the most impactful ever captured of a individual from the royal household.

In the frame appeared the Baron Killyleagh, with his arm around a young woman, while a companion grinned conspiratorially in the rear.

Lacking 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 trafficked across the sea and forced to have perfunctory relations with a member of the monarchy?

An odd, revealing move by someone who had publicly claimed to have never been aware of her, claimed he could never have had relations with her, and yet provided a large amount of monarchical resources to settle a protracted court action.

A Long Period of Disgrace

In this context, talk of the royals acting firmly to distance themselves from Andrew are inaccurate. This affair has persisted for the majority of 15 years since that picture, and another photo of Andrew ambling amiably with a notorious individual came to light.

• Hubris: How long did his brothers and sisters, maybe even his mother and father, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Questionable Associations: They must have understood, if his staff and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some highly questionable companions given he unabashedly invited them to palaces.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the family did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Trips were documented in public records: private aircraft travel from the palace to a sporting venue and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the benefit of "the travel enthusiast".

Existence of Entitlement

Then there was the presumption which expected deference when he entered a room or the supreme awareness about his royal titles used on his official documents in messages to his associates.

He avoided accountability while his matriarch, who strangely spoiled him, was still alive. The Queen did at least strip him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the aftermath of his catastrophic and, we now know, untruthful media appearance six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last two weeks that events accelerated, following the issuance of books giving more grim information of his behavior and that of his associates.

More information have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could escape lying about his contact with a notorious figure.

Society (and the journalists) were far more perceptive of the royals. There was no one of any consequence to speak up for him, a result of all those years of hubris.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser royals realized that. The primary concern is to pass on the institution, if not as before at least complete and untarnished.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to undo the image of previous monarchs, proving they are beneficial, accountable and attentive to their people.

He was placing all that in jeopardy in an time when respect and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

Consequences

Eventually, the famously hesitant sovereign was pushed more. There was no other option. The palace had relinquished authority of the narrative.

Currently the stripping of designations and the persistent and permanent public humiliation that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Past Example: The first royal to forfeit his titles in contemporary era
• Military Service: Particularly hurtful given his service in the conflict

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

Future Prospects

Will people he meets still acknowledge him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Your Highness? Might they say Mr,

Of course, he is not moving to a common area, but to the sovereign's extensive grounds at a royal residence.

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

This differs from his prior accommodation, where he paid a minimal rent for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit distant, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Unresolved Issues

The situation continues. There are still records in the hands of US Congress to be disclosed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Will legislators request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or investigate the waste of state resources
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Perhaps for the present the harm to the monarchy to the institution is contained. The message from the royal household was clearly that the removal of designations was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior monarchical figures, wanted.

A Shift in Position

An end to pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, remarkably, the brief announcement showed clearly that the monarchy were supporting the accuser's version of incidents.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they eventually showed regard for the affected individuals: "These actions are considered essential, regardless of the truth that he continues to deny the accusations against him."

In the end it is presumption, selfishness and laziness that will destroy the crown. In his foolishness, personal excess and venality, Andrew appears never to have learned that lesson.