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The saga started with a isolated photograph, perhaps the most significant ever captured of a member of the monarchy.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, arm-in-arm a female youth, while another individual grinned suggestively in the rear.

Lacking that snapshot, taken at a party in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the allegations of a adolescent who stated she was moved across the ocean and obliged to have perfunctory relations with a member of the royal family?

A strange, indicative move by someone who had openly claimed to have never heard of her, asserted he could not have had relations with her, and yet handed over a substantial sum of his mother's resources to settle a drawn-out lawsuit.

Years of Disgrace

In this context, talk of the royals acting swiftly to cut Andrew off are misguided. This scandal has endured for the largest portion of 15 years since that photograph, and a further image of Andrew strolling amiably with a convicted sex offender came to light.

• Hubris: To what extent did his family members, perhaps even his mother and father, realize that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Questionable Associations: They must have known, if his staff and the police were fulfilling their roles, that he had some highly questionable associates given he openly welcomed them to royal residences.
• Financial Extravagance: If the family did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with taxpayer funds.

Trips were listed in royal annual reports: chopper travel from the estate to a golf course and back again in time for midday meal, chartered planes instead of commercial flights, all for the comfort of "Airmiles Andy".

World of Deference

Then there was the entitlement which expected subservience when he appeared in a room or the profound awareness about his designations used on his correspondence in letters to his associates.

He could get away with it while his parent, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still living. The sovereign did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his catastrophic and, we now know, deceptive media appearance six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last fortnight that events sped up, following the release of biographical works giving more grim particulars of his behavior and that of his companions.

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

People (and the media) were far ahead of the monarchy. There was no one of any significance to support him, a result of all those years of hubris.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser monarchical figures realized that. The key objective is to hand down the crown, if not as before at least intact and unstained.

For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of earlier rulers, showing they are useful, accountable and attentive to their citizens.

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

The Fallout

Eventually, the well-known uncertain king was pressured further. There was no alternative. The palace had relinquished authority of the story.

Presently the stripping of designations and the continued and lifetime personal shame that will afflict Andrew the most.

• Reduction: Demoted to just a private citizen
• Historical Precedent: The initial royal to surrender his designations in modern times
• Military Service: Especially stinging given his service in the conflict

He remains a constitutional officer, in principle able to act for the monarch, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but not any of these will actually happen.

Coming Developments

Can persons he comes across still defer to him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Your Highness? Will they even say Mr,

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

In that place, he will be furnished by the sovereign with one of the royal residences and given some type of personal stipend.

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

Unresolved Issues

This is not over. There are still documents in the custody of US Congress to be made public.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Might lawmakers demand more
• Monetary Probe: Or investigate the waste of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a criminal probe into his behavior

Maybe for the moment the reputational impact to the crown is restricted. The narrative from the royal household was plainly that the removal of honorifics was what the monarch, and notably other senior royals, sought.

Changed Stance

An end to illusion that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, remarkably, the concise announcement showed clearly that the royals were siding with the complainant's account of occurrences.

Additionally, for the premiere occasion they ultimately showed consideration for the survivors: "The censures are considered essential, despite the reality that he continues to deny the accusations against him."

Ultimately it is entitlement, self-interest and indolence that will destroy the crown. In his foolishness, self-gratification and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have grasped that reality.