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This episode commenced with a solitary photograph, possibly the most impactful ever taken of a member of the monarchy.

Present was the Earl of Inverness, with his arm around a female youth, while an associate beamed conspiratorially in the background.

Absent that image, taken at a party in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the assertions of a teenager who declared she was transported across the sea and compelled to have brief sexual encounters with a member of the royal family?

An odd, revealing action by someone who had publicly claimed to have no been aware of her, asserted he could no have had relations with her, and yet handed over a substantial sum of family money to resolve a drawn-out legal case.

Years of Controversy

Against this backdrop, talk of the monarchy acting swiftly to sever ties with Andrew are misguided. This scandal has persisted for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and another photo of Andrew ambling congenially with a disgraced financier came to light.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his brothers and sisters, perhaps even his relatives, understand that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Problematic Connections: They must have understood, if his staff and the law enforcement were performing their duties, that he had some extremely unsavory associates given he publicly welcomed them to estates.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the household did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his extravagance with public money.

Journeys were printed in official documents: private aircraft transfers from the palace to a golf course and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the presumption which demanded subservience when he entered a space or the profound awareness about his honorifics used on his letterheads in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who strangely indulged him, was still alive. The Queen did at least remove him of official roles and military positions in the wake of his disastrous and, it is now clear, deceptive media appearance six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last 14 days that events progressed rapidly, following the release of biographical works giving more troubling particulars of his behavior and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could avoid lying about his interaction with a disgraced individual.

The public (and the media) were far in advance of the royals. There was not a single person of any importance to support him, a consequence of all those years of hubris.

Royal Worries

The more intelligent family members realized that. The primary concern is to transfer the monarchy, if not as heretofore at least intact and unblemished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the reputation of past sovereigns, proving they are valuable, dutiful and reactive to their citizens.

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

The Fallout

Finally, the notoriously indecisive monarch was pushed additional. There was little choice. The palace had lost control of the account.

Now it is the stripping of titles and the continued and life-long personal shame that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Demotion: Demoted to just a commoner
• Past Example: The first member to lose his titles in contemporary era
• Naval Career: Particularly hurtful given his service in the engagement

He continues to be a constitutional officer, in principle able to act for the king, and he is still in the succession to the monarchy, but none of these will truly occur.

Coming Developments

Will people he meets still show respect to him? Will they still slip up and call him Prince? Will they even say Sir,

Naturally, he is not retiring to a common area, but to the monarchy's large grounds at Sandringham.

There, he will be supplied by the sovereign with one of the estate properties and given some sort of financial support.

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

Unresolved Issues

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

• Parliamentary Interest: Will lawmakers seek further action
• Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the waste of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Maybe for the time being the reputational impact to the crown is limited. The narrative from the royal household was clearly that the removal of titles was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior royals, wanted.

Changed Stance

An end to illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, remarkably, the brief announcement showed evidently that the institution were aligning with the victim's narrative of events.

Additionally, for the initial instance they finally showed consideration for the affected individuals: "The measures are considered essential, notwithstanding the fact that he maintains his innocence of the allegations against him."

Finally it is entitlement, self-interest and laziness that will undermine the crown. In his folly, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew gives the impression never to have learned that lesson.