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It all began with a solitary photograph, possibly the most significant ever snapped of a royal family member.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, standing closely beside a female youth, while a companion smiled suggestively in the rear.

Lacking that image, captured at a gathering in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a teenager who declared she was trafficked across the sea and obliged to have cursory intimate contact with a member of the royal bloodline?

A curious, indicative action by someone who had openly claimed to have not been aware of her, claimed he could never have had intimate contact with her, and yet paid a large amount of monarchical money to resolve a long-delayed court action.

A Long Period of Scandal

In this context, talk of the monarchy acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This controversy has persisted for the better part of 15 years since that picture, and an additional snapshot of Andrew ambling congenially with a disgraced financier surfaced.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his brothers and sisters, maybe even his relatives, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his aides and the law enforcement were doing their jobs, that he had some highly questionable friends given he unabashedly invited them to royal residences.
• Monetary Excess: If the family did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Travel were documented in royal annual reports: private aircraft transfers from the royal residence to a golf course and back again in time for dining, private flights instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "Airmiles Andy".

Existence of Entitlement

Then there was the presumption which required respect when he entered a area or the extreme awareness about his royal titles used on his correspondence in letters to his personal acquaintances.

He could get away with it while his parent, who unaccountably pampered him, was still alive. The Queen did at least remove him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his disastrous and, as revealed, deceptive media appearance six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last fortnight that events progressed rapidly, following the issuance of books giving more troubling particulars of his actions and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could get away with being untruthful about his contact with a disgraced individual.

People (and the journalists) were far in advance of the royal family. There was no one of any importance to speak up for him, a result of all those years of presumption.

Institutional Fears

The more astute monarchical figures realized that. The key objective is to transfer the crown, if not as heretofore at least intact and unstained.

For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of past sovereigns, demonstrating they are valuable, responsible and responsive to their people.

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

Consequences

Ultimately, the well-known uncertain sovereign was pressured more. There was no alternative. The institution had surrendered command of the narrative.

Currently the loss of titles and the continued and permanent public humiliation that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Reduction: Reduced to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The first monarch to surrender his honorifics in modern times
• Armed Forces: Especially painful given his duty in the conflict

He continues to be a royal advisor, on paper able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still eighth in line to the crown, but none of these will actually occur.

Future Prospects

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

Of course, he is not withdrawing to a common area, but to the monarchy's large property at a monarchical property.

In that place, he will be supplied by the sovereign with one of the royal residences and given some sort of private allowance.

It is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a token payment for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit remote, but even so it may not be far enough.

Outstanding Concerns

This is not over. There are still files in the possession of US Congress to be revealed.

• Political Pressure: Will lawmakers seek further action
• Monetary Probe: Or examine the improper use of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a criminal probe into his actions

Possibly for the present the reputational impact to the institution is restricted. The statement from the institution was clearly that the revocation of honorifics was what the king, and notably other senior royals, wanted.

A Shift in Position

No more pretence that Andrew was acting willingly. And, notably, the concise announcement showed plainly that the monarchy were supporting the complainant's account of incidents.

Furthermore, for the initial instance they eventually showed regard for the survivors: "The measures are considered essential, despite the truth that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."

In the end it is presumption, self-seeking and inactivity that will undermine the institution. In his foolishness, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew gives the impression never to have learned that reality.