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

Present was the Duke of York, arm-in-arm a young woman, while a companion smiled suggestively in the background.

Absent that snapshot, captured at a gathering in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a teenager who declared she was moved across the ocean and compelled to have perfunctory intimate contact with a individual of the royal family?

A strange, indicative action by someone who had openly stated to have never heard of her, said he could never have had sex with her, and yet handed over a large amount of his mother's funds to resolve a long-delayed lawsuit.

Years of Scandal

Against this backdrop, talk of the royal family acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are misguided. This controversy has continued for the better part of 15 years since that photograph, and a further image of Andrew strolling amiably with a convicted sex offender surfaced.

• Arrogance: How long did his siblings, possibly even his mother and father, understand that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his staff and the police were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he unabashedly invited them to estates.
• Monetary Excess: If the family did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Travel were documented in public records: private aircraft flights from the estate to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, chartered planes instead of regular transport, all for the comfort of "the travel enthusiast".

Existence of Entitlement

Then there was the arrogance which demanded deference when he appeared in a area or the supreme consciousness about his honorifics used on his letterheads in messages to his personal acquaintances.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who inexplicably spoiled him, was still alive. The monarch did at least strip him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the consequence of his disastrous and, as revealed, untruthful media appearance six years ago.

Latest Events

Just in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the issuance of accounts giving more disturbing information of his conduct and that of his associates.

Further disclosures have again revealed Andrew's assumption that he could escape being untruthful about his interaction with a convicted criminal.

People (and the media) were far ahead of the monarchy. There was nobody of any importance to speak up for him, a result of all those years of arrogance.

Royal Worries

The wiser family members recognized that. The key objective is to hand down the institution, if not as before at least whole and untarnished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the image of previous monarchs, demonstrating they are useful, dutiful and reactive to their citizens.

He was placing all that in danger in an era when deference and discretion is no longer enough.

The Fallout

Eventually, the notoriously uncertain king was prodded further. There was no alternative. The institution had surrendered command of the account.

Now it is the loss of designations and the persistent and life-long public humiliation that will hurt Andrew most deeply.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just a commoner
• Prior Instance: The first royal to surrender his designations in modern times
• Armed Forces: Especially stinging given his service in the conflict

He remains a constitutional officer, on paper able to substitute for the sovereign, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but none of these will actually come to pass.

Coming Developments

Can persons he encounters still acknowledge him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Might they say Mr,

Naturally, he is not retiring to a common area, but to the sovereign's large property at a monarchical property.

In that place, he will be furnished by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some type of private allowance.

This differs from his previous residence, where he paid a token payment for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit distant, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Unresolved Issues

The situation continues. There are still files in the hands of overseas authorities to be disclosed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Will legislators demand more
• Fiscal Review: Or scrutinize the improper use of taxpayer funds
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Perhaps for the moment the institutional damage to the crown is limited. The statement from the palace was evidently that the revocation of designations was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior monarchical figures, wanted.

A Shift in Position

The cessation of illusion that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the short communication showed clearly that the institution were aligning with the victim's version of incidents.

Furthermore, for the initial instance they ultimately showed concern for the survivors: "The censures are considered essential, regardless of the reality that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

Finally it is arrogance, selfishness and indolence that will undermine the monarchy. In his foolishness, self-indulgence and venality, Andrew seems never to have learned that lesson.