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The saga started with a isolated photograph, arguably the most consequential ever taken of a royal family member.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, standing closely beside a female youth, while an associate grinned conspiratorially in the background.

Lacking that photograph, captured at a party in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a young woman who declared she was moved across the Atlantic and forced to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a member of the monarchy?

A curious, revealing action by someone who had overtly claimed to have never known about her, asserted he could no have had intimate contact with her, and yet provided a large amount of his mother's funds to settle a long-delayed legal case.

Years of Controversy

Against this backdrop, discussions of the royals acting swiftly to sever ties with Andrew are misguided. This controversy has endured for the better part of 15 years since that picture, and an additional photo of Andrew ambling pleasantly with a disgraced financier surfaced.

• Self-importance: For what duration did his family members, maybe even his mother and father, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have known, if his aides and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he publicly invited them to royal residences.
• Monetary Excess: If the household did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with state resources.

Trips were printed in royal annual reports: chopper travel from the palace to a sporting venue and back again in time for lunch, exclusive air travel instead of regular transport, all for the convenience of "the travel enthusiast".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the arrogance which expected deference when he walked into a space or the profound consciousness about his royal titles used on his correspondence in messages to his personal acquaintances.

He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least remove him of official roles and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his disastrous and, as revealed, deceptive television interview six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last two weeks that events accelerated, following the publication of biographical works giving more grim details of his behavior and that of his associates.

Further disclosures have again revealed Andrew's thinking that he could escape being untruthful about his relationship with a disgraced individual.

The public (and the journalists) were far ahead of the royals. There was not a single person of any importance to support him, a consequence of all those years of presumption.

Royal Worries

The more intelligent family members understood that. The one imperative is to pass on the monarchy, if not as previously at least whole and untarnished.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to undo the reputation of earlier rulers, proving they are valuable, accountable and attentive to their subjects.

His actions endangered all that in peril in an era when respect and privacy is no longer adequate.

The Fallout

Ultimately, the well-known uncertain monarch was pushed further. There was no other option. The palace had surrendered command of the narrative.

Now it is the stripping of honorifics and the continued and permanent personal shame that will hurt Andrew most deeply.

• Demotion: Demoted to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The first member to lose his honorifics in modern times
• Armed Forces: Notably hurtful given his service in the engagement

He is still a constitutional officer, in principle able to act for the sovereign, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but not any of these will ever occur.

What Lies Ahead

Do individuals he meets still acknowledge him? Will they still forget themselves and call him Prince? Would they say Andrew,

Of course, he is not retiring to an ordinary town, but to the royal family's extensive grounds at a monarchical property.

In that place, he will be furnished by the monarch with one of the grace and favour houses and given some type of financial support.

This differs from his previous residence, where he paid a nominal rent for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit distant, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Outstanding Concerns

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

• Political Pressure: Could parliament seek further action
• Fiscal Review: Or examine the improper use of public money
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his actions

Perhaps for the time being the reputational impact to the institution is restricted. The narrative from the palace was plainly that the revocation of honorifics was what the sovereign, and especially other senior monarchical figures, desired.

Changed Stance

The cessation of pretence that Andrew was acting willingly. And, significantly, the brief statement showed evidently that the institution were aligning with the accuser's narrative of occurrences.

Additionally, for the first time they ultimately showed concern for the victims: "The censures are deemed necessary, regardless of the fact that he continues to deny the claims against him."

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