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It all began with a isolated photograph, possibly the most impactful ever captured of a member of the monarchy.

There stood the Duke of York, standing closely beside a female youth, while an associate grinned suggestively in the backdrop.

Lacking that photograph, shot at a party in 2001, few would have credited the assertions of a adolescent who said she was trafficked across the ocean and forced to have brief sexual encounters with a prince of the royal family?

A strange, telling gesture by someone who had publicly claimed to have no known about her, claimed he could not have had intimate contact with her, and yet paid millions of monarchical money to settle a protracted lawsuit.

Over a Decade of Disgrace

In this context, talk of the monarchy acting firmly to distance themselves from Andrew are misguided. This controversy has continued for the majority of 15 years since that photograph, and a further snapshot of Andrew strolling amiably with a disgraced financier came to light.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his siblings, possibly even his mother and father, know that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his employees and the law enforcement were fulfilling their roles, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he unabashedly welcomed them to palaces.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with state resources.

Journeys were printed in official documents: private aircraft flights from the estate to a sporting venue and back again in time for lunch, exclusive air travel instead of regular transport, all for the convenience of "the frequent flyer".

World of Deference

Furthermore the arrogance which expected deference when he walked into a area or the extreme obsession about his designations used on his correspondence in communication to his associates.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who strangely spoiled him, was still alive. The monarch did at least revoke him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the consequence of his ill-fated and, we now know, deceptive public statement six years ago.

Recent Developments

Merely in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the publication of biographical works giving more grim details of his actions and that of his connections.

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

The public (and the press) were far more perceptive of the monarchy. There was no one of any importance to support him, a consequence of all those years of arrogance.

Royal Worries

The wiser family members recognized that. The one imperative is to pass on the monarchy, if not as previously at least whole and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of past sovereigns, showing they are valuable, responsible and reactive to their people.

Andrew was putting all that in danger in an time when submission and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

Aftermath

Eventually, the famously uncertain monarch was prodded additional. There was no alternative. The royal household had relinquished authority of the story.

Currently the removal of designations and the ongoing and permanent social disgrace that will hurt Andrew most deeply.

• Demotion: Demoted to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The first monarch to forfeit his titles in contemporary era
• Armed Forces: Particularly hurtful given his service in the engagement

He continues to be a royal advisor, theoretically able to substitute for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the throne, but none of these will actually occur.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he encounters still acknowledge him? Could they still make mistakes and call him Prince? Might they say Andrew,

Certainly, he is not moving to a common area, but to the royal family's large grounds at a royal residence.

At that location, he will be provided by the monarch with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of personal stipend.

It is not his previous residence, where he paid a nominal payment for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit remote, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Pending Matters

The situation continues. There are still records in the custody of US Congress to be disclosed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Will legislators seek further action
• Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the waste of public money
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a criminal probe into his conduct

Possibly for the moment the harm to the monarchy to the institution is contained. The statement from the institution was evidently that the revocation of honorifics was what the monarch, and particularly other senior family members, wanted.

Altered Approach

The cessation of pretence that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, significantly, the brief communication showed evidently that the monarchy were aligning with the victim's narrative of events.

Even more, for the first time they eventually showed consideration for the victims: "The measures are considered essential, notwithstanding the reality that he persists in refuting the claims against him."

Ultimately it is entitlement, selfishness and indolence that will destroy the monarchy. In his foolishness, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that truth.