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It all began with a single photograph, arguably the most impactful ever snapped of a royal family member.

In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, with his arm around a female youth, while an associate grinned conspiratorially in the background.

Lacking that photograph, captured at a party in 2001, few would have credited the claims of a teenager who stated she was trafficked across the Atlantic and compelled to have cursory sexual encounters with a member of the royal family?

An odd, revealing action by someone who had overtly claimed to have never heard of her, asserted he could not have had relations with her, and yet paid millions of family money to avert a long-delayed legal case.

Over a Decade of Disgrace

Against this backdrop, conversations of the royals acting decisively to distance themselves from Andrew are misguided. This controversy has persisted for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and another snapshot of Andrew ambling pleasantly with a convicted sex offender surfaced.

• Hubris: How long did his brothers and sisters, maybe even his relatives, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his staff and the police were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he unabashedly invited them to estates.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the family did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Journeys were printed in official documents: chopper flights from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of commercial flights, all for the comfort of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Then there was the arrogance which required deference when he entered a room or the profound consciousness about his honorifics used on his official documents in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who strangely pampered him, was still surviving. The Queen did at least revoke him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the consequence of his catastrophic and, we now know, mendacious television interview six years ago.

Recent Developments

Merely in the last 14 days that events progressed rapidly, following the issuance of biographical works giving more grim information of his behavior and that of his companions.

Additional revelations have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could get away with deceiving about his contact with a disgraced individual.

Society (and the journalists) were far ahead of the royals. There was no one of any importance to speak up for him, a result of all those years of arrogance.

Royal Worries

The more astute monarchical figures recognized that. The key objective is to pass on the monarchy, if not as before at least whole and unstained.

For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of past sovereigns, showing they are beneficial, dutiful and reactive to their people.

His actions endangered all that in jeopardy in an age when submission and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

The Fallout

Eventually, the well-known hesitant monarch was prodded additional. There was no alternative. The royal household had relinquished authority of the account.

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

• Demotion: Demoted to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Prior Instance: The primary monarch to lose his honorifics in modern times
• Armed Forces: Especially painful given his duty in the Falklands war

He continues to be a royal advisor, in principle able to act for the monarch, and he is still eighth in line to the monarchy, but not any of these will truly occur.

What Lies Ahead

Will people he comes across still acknowledge him? Could they still slip up and call him Prince? Might they say Andrew,

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

At that location, he will be provided by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of financial support.

This differs from his former home, where he paid a minimal payment for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit far, but even so it may not be far enough.

Pending Matters

Matters remain unresolved. There are still documents in the possession of US Congress to be disclosed.

• Political Pressure: Will parliament request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or investigate the waste of taxpayer funds
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Perhaps for the time being the institutional damage to the institution is contained. The statement from the palace was evidently that the revocation of honorifics was what the monarch, and notably other senior family members, desired.

A Shift in Position

An end to illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, remarkably, the brief statement showed evidently that the institution were supporting the victim's version of incidents.

Additionally, for the premiere occasion they ultimately showed concern for the affected individuals: "These actions are judged required, despite the reality that he continues to deny the allegations against him."

Ultimately it is presumption, self-interest and laziness that will kill the institution. In his foolishness, personal excess and venality, Andrew appears never to have understood that reality.