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This episode commenced with a single photograph, possibly the most consequential ever captured of a individual from the royal household.

In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, with his arm around a teenage girl, while an associate smiled knowingly in the rear.

Absent that photograph, taken at a gathering in 2001, who would have believed the allegations of a young woman who stated she was trafficked across the ocean and obliged to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a prince of the royal family?

A curious, telling gesture by someone who had openly stated to have not known about her, said he could no have had intimate contact with her, and yet handed over a substantial sum of family funds to settle a protracted lawsuit.

Over a Decade of Controversy

Considering this, talk of the royal family acting decisively to cut Andrew off are misguided. This controversy has endured for the majority of 15 years since that picture, and another snapshot of Andrew strolling congenially with a disgraced financier came to light.

• Self-importance: To what extent did his family members, possibly even his parents, realize that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Questionable Associations: They must have realized, if his employees and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he publicly welcomed them to palaces.
• Financial Extravagance: If the household did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his extravagance with taxpayer funds.

Trips were listed in official documents: chopper transfers from the estate to a golf course and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of regular transport, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the arrogance which expected deference when he entered a area or the supreme obsession about his designations used on his correspondence in letters to his associates.

He could get away with it while his parent, who strangely pampered him, was still living. The sovereign did at least remove him of official roles and military positions in the consequence of his ill-fated and, we now know, mendacious media appearance six years ago.

Latest Events

Merely in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the publication of biographical works giving more grim information of his conduct and that of his connections.

More information have again highlighted Andrew's assumption that he could avoid deceiving about his contact with a disgraced individual.

The public (and the media) were far ahead of the royal family. There was no one of any significance to support him, a outcome of all those years of hubris.

Royal Worries

The more astute monarchical figures realized that. The primary concern is to transfer the monarchy, if not as previously at least whole and unblemished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the image of past sovereigns, demonstrating they are useful, dutiful and responsive to their subjects.

He was placing all that in jeopardy in an age when submission and discretion is no longer enough.

Consequences

Finally, the famously uncertain sovereign was prodded more. There was no alternative. The royal household had relinquished authority of the account.

Presently the stripping of honorifics and the continued and lifetime personal shame that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Reduction: Reduced to just a commoner
• Past Example: The initial royal to lose his designations in modern times
• Naval Career: Especially painful given his duty in the engagement

He remains a royal advisor, on paper able to act for the sovereign, and he is still eighth in line to the monarchy, but none of these will truly happen.

Coming Developments

Can persons he encounters still show respect to him? Will they still slip up and call him Prince? Would they say Mr,

Certainly, he is not retiring to a common area, but to the monarchy's large property at Sandringham.

At that location, he will be furnished by the monarch with one of the estate properties and given some sort of private allowance.

It is not his former home, where he paid a nominal payment for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit distant, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still files in the possession of US Congress to be revealed.

• Political Pressure: Will lawmakers seek further action
• Fiscal Review: Or investigate the misuse of taxpayer funds
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a criminal probe into his actions

Possibly for the time being the reputational impact to the monarchy is restricted. The statement from the institution was evidently that the revocation of titles was what the monarch, and notably other senior monarchical figures, sought.

Altered Approach

No more pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, notably, the concise communication showed plainly that the royals were siding with the victim's narrative of incidents.

Even more, for the initial instance they eventually showed consideration for the affected individuals: "The measures are considered essential, despite the reality that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

In the end it is arrogance, selfishness and laziness that will kill the crown. In his foolishness, personal excess and greed, Andrew seems never to have learned that reality.