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The saga started with a isolated photograph, arguably the most consequential ever snapped of a member of the monarchy.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, with his arm around a female youth, while another individual grinned knowingly in the backdrop.

Absent that image, shot at a gathering in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the assertions of a young woman who stated she was transported across the Atlantic and compelled to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a individual of the monarchy?

An odd, indicative action by someone who had overtly stated to have no known about her, said he could never have had intimate contact with her, and yet paid a large amount of monarchical funds to settle a long-delayed lawsuit.

Over a Decade of Disgrace

Considering this, talk of the monarchy acting swiftly to cut Andrew off are inaccurate. This affair has persisted for the majority of 15 years since that picture, and another snapshot of Andrew strolling amiably with a disgraced financier emerged.

• Self-importance: How long did his siblings, possibly even his mother and father, understand that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his employees and the law enforcement were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he unabashedly invited them to royal residences.
• Monetary Excess: If the monarchy did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with state resources.

Travel were documented in royal annual reports: private aircraft transfers from the palace to a sporting venue and back again in time for dining, private flights instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "the travel enthusiast".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the presumption which required subservience when he appeared in a room or the profound awareness about his designations used on his correspondence in letters to his associates.

He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who inexplicably spoiled him, was still living. The sovereign did at least strip him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the aftermath of his disastrous and, we now know, mendacious public statement six years ago.

Recent Developments

Just in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the publication of biographical works giving more disturbing details of his conduct and that of his companions.

Additional revelations have again revealed Andrew's belief that he could escape deceiving about his relationship with a notorious figure.

Society (and the press) were far more perceptive of the monarchy. There was not a single person of any consequence to speak up for him, a outcome of all those years of hubris.

Institutional Fears

The more astute royals understood that. The one imperative is to transfer the crown, if not as previously at least intact and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the legacy of earlier rulers, demonstrating they are beneficial, dutiful and responsive to their people.

Andrew was putting all that in jeopardy in an era when submission and secrecy is no longer adequate.

The Fallout

Eventually, the well-known uncertain monarch was pressured additional. There was no other option. The institution had lost control of the narrative.

Currently the loss of designations and the continued and permanent personal shame that will afflict Andrew most deeply.

• Reduction: Lowered to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The initial member to surrender his honorifics in modern times
• Military Service: Notably painful given his role in the Falklands war

He is still a royal advisor, theoretically able to substitute for the sovereign, and he is still in the succession to the monarchy, but none of these will actually happen.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he meets still defer to him? Could they still slip up and call him Prince? Would they say Andrew,

Certainly, he is not moving to suburbia, but to the sovereign's large grounds at a monarchical property.

There, he will be furnished by the sovereign with one of the grace and favour houses and given some type of private allowance.

This is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a nominal payment for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit far, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Pending Matters

Matters remain unresolved. There are still records in the hands of overseas authorities to be made public.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Could parliament seek further action
• Financial Investigation: Or investigate the misuse of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Possibly for the time being the institutional damage to the monarchy is restricted. The narrative from the royal household was evidently that the revocation of honorifics was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior royals, wanted.

Changed Stance

An end to deception that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, remarkably, the short announcement showed clearly that the monarchy were siding with the complainant's narrative of events.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they finally showed regard for the survivors: "The measures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the accusations against him."

Finally it is arrogance, selfishness and indolence that will kill the institution. In his stupidity, self-gratification and greed, Andrew appears never to have learned that lesson.