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It all began with a single photograph, possibly the most impactful ever taken of a royal family member.

There stood the Duke of York, with his arm around a female youth, while an associate smiled conspiratorially in the rear.

Without that photograph, captured at a gathering in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the assertions of a young woman who said she was trafficked across the Atlantic and compelled to have brief intimate contact with a prince of the royal bloodline?

An odd, telling move by someone who had publicly asserted to have no heard of her, said he could no have had sex with her, and yet handed over a large amount of monarchical money to resolve a protracted lawsuit.

Years of Disgrace

Considering this, discussions of the monarchy acting firmly to cut Andrew off are wide of the mark. This controversy has continued for the largest portion of 15 years since that photograph, and a further snapshot of Andrew walking pleasantly with a disgraced financier surfaced.

• Arrogance: To what extent did his family members, perhaps even his mother and father, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Questionable Associations: They must have known, if his employees and the authorities were fulfilling their roles, that he had some highly questionable associates given he publicly welcomed them to palaces.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Trips were documented in official documents: private aircraft flights from the estate to a golf course and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of regular transport, all for the comfort of "the travel enthusiast".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the presumption which expected respect when he walked into a space or the extreme obsession about his honorifics used on his letterheads in letters to his associates.

He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who inexplicably pampered him, was still living. The monarch did at least revoke him of official roles and military positions in the consequence of his ill-fated and, as revealed, untruthful media appearance six years ago.

Recent Developments

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

Further disclosures have again exposed Andrew's belief that he could escape being untruthful about his contact with a disgraced individual.

People (and the press) 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 more astute monarchical figures understood that. The one imperative is to pass on the monarchy, if not as heretofore at least intact and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the image of past sovereigns, demonstrating they are useful, accountable and attentive to their people.

His actions endangered all that in danger in an time when respect and discretion is no longer sufficient.

The Fallout

Eventually, the notoriously hesitant king was pressured additional. There was no alternative. The institution had surrendered command of the account.

Presently the loss of titles and the persistent and permanent personal shame that will hurt Andrew the most.

• Demotion: Reduced to just a commoner
• Prior Instance: The first royal to surrender his titles in modern times
• Armed Forces: Especially painful given his duty in the conflict

He continues to be a constitutional officer, in principle able to act for the king, and he is still in the succession to the throne, but none of these will ever come to pass.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he comes across still acknowledge him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Sir? Might they say Sir,

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

In that place, he will be supplied by the monarch with one of the grace and favour houses and given some form of personal stipend.

This differs from his prior accommodation, where he paid a token lease for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit remote, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Unresolved Issues

Matters remain unresolved. There are still files in the possession of US Congress to be made public.

• Political Pressure: Will lawmakers request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or investigate the improper use of state resources
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a police investigation into his conduct

Perhaps for the present the harm to the monarchy to the institution is contained. The statement from the institution was plainly that the revocation of titles was what the monarch, and especially other senior royals, sought.

Changed Stance

The cessation of illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, remarkably, the concise communication showed evidently that the institution were siding with the accuser's narrative of incidents.

Even more, for the first time they ultimately showed consideration for the survivors: "These actions are deemed necessary, regardless of the truth that he persists in refuting the allegations against him."

Finally it is presumption, self-interest and inactivity that will destroy the institution. In his foolishness, self-gratification and greed, Andrew seems never to have grasped that reality.