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This episode commenced with a isolated photograph, possibly the most significant ever snapped of a member of the monarchy.

There stood the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a female youth, while an associate smiled knowingly in the backdrop.

Without that image, taken at a party in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the allegations of a young woman who declared she was trafficked across the Atlantic and forced to have cursory relations with a prince of the royal bloodline?

A curious, revealing move by someone who had openly stated to have never been aware of her, said he could never have had sex with her, and yet handed over millions of monarchical funds to avert a long-delayed court action.

Over a Decade of Disgrace

Against this backdrop, discussions of the monarchy acting swiftly to distance themselves from Andrew are inaccurate. This affair has continued for the better part of 15 years since that picture, and a further image of Andrew ambling amiably with a convicted sex offender emerged.

• Hubris: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his relatives, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his employees and the law enforcement were performing their duties, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he unabashedly hosted them to palaces.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with taxpayer funds.

Journeys were printed in royal annual reports: helicopter flights from the palace to a country club and back again in time for dining, exclusive air travel instead of regular transport, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

Existence of Entitlement

Additionally the presumption which expected deference when he entered a area or the supreme awareness about his royal titles used on his correspondence in messages to his friends.

He avoided accountability while his matriarch, who inexplicably spoiled him, was still living. The Queen did at least remove him of official roles and military positions in the consequence of his ill-fated and, we now know, deceptive public statement six years ago.

Latest Events

Merely in the last two weeks that events sped up, following the publication of biographical works giving more troubling particulars of his behavior and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again exposed Andrew's belief that he could get away with lying about his relationship with a notorious figure.

The public (and the journalists) were far ahead of the royals. There was nobody of any significance to support him, a outcome of all those years of presumption.

Institutional Fears

The more intelligent family members realized that. The key objective is to pass on the crown, if not as previously at least whole and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to overcome the legacy of past sovereigns, proving they are beneficial, dutiful and attentive to their citizens.

He was placing all that in danger in an age when respect and privacy is no longer enough.

Consequences

Eventually, the notoriously hesitant sovereign was pushed further. There was no other option. The royal household had relinquished authority of the narrative.

Presently the removal of designations and the continued and lifetime social disgrace that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Demotion: Reduced to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The primary monarch to forfeit his designations in contemporary era
• Military Service: Especially painful given his duty in the engagement

He is still a royal advisor, theoretically able to stand in for the king, and he is still in the lineage to the monarchy, but none of these will truly happen.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he meets still defer to him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Your Highness? Will they even say Sir,

Certainly, he is not retiring to a common area, but to the sovereign's extensive grounds at Sandringham.

At that location, he will be supplied by the monarch with one of the estate properties and given some form of personal stipend.

It is not his previous residence, where he paid a minimal payment for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit far, but even so it may not be far enough.

Pending Matters

Matters remain unresolved. There are still records in the custody of American legislators to be made public.

• Parliamentary Interest: Could lawmakers seek further action
• Fiscal Review: Or investigate the waste of taxpayer funds
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Possibly for the present the harm to the monarchy to the crown is limited. The narrative from the royal household was evidently that the stripping of honorifics was what the monarch, and especially other senior royals, desired.

Altered Approach

The cessation of illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, notably, the short statement showed clearly that the monarchy were siding with the victim's account of occurrences.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they eventually showed regard for the survivors: "These actions are considered essential, regardless of the fact that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."

Finally it is entitlement, self-interest and laziness that will undermine the crown. In his stupidity, self-indulgence and greed, Andrew appears never to have grasped that truth.