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The saga started with a isolated photograph, perhaps the most consequential ever taken of a member of the monarchy.

There stood the Baron Killyleagh, with his arm around a teenage girl, while a companion beamed conspiratorially in the background.

Without that image, taken at a gathering in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a teenager who declared she was transported across the Atlantic and obliged to have cursory intimate contact with a prince of the royal family?

A curious, telling move by someone who had overtly stated to have never heard of her, asserted he could never have had relations with her, and yet provided a large amount of monarchical funds to settle a protracted lawsuit.

Years of Scandal

In this context, conversations of the royals acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are misguided. This affair has continued for the better part of 15 years since that photograph, and a further snapshot of Andrew walking amiably with a notorious individual surfaced.

• Hubris: To what extent did his siblings, possibly even his relatives, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his employees and the police were fulfilling their roles, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he unabashedly welcomed them to palaces.
• Financial Extravagance: 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: helicopter flights from the palace to a golf course and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of commercial flights, all for the convenience of "the frequent flyer".

World of Deference

Furthermore the entitlement which expected respect when he walked into a room or the profound consciousness about his royal titles used on his official documents in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He could get away with it while his mother, who unaccountably indulged him, was still alive. The Queen did at least strip him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the wake of his ill-fated and, we now know, mendacious media appearance six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last two weeks that events sped up, following the release of books giving more grim details of his actions and that of his associates.

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

People (and the media) were far in advance of the monarchy. There was not a single person of any importance to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of hubris.

Institutional Fears

The more intelligent monarchical figures realized that. The primary concern is to transfer the crown, if not as heretofore at least whole and unblemished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to overcome the legacy of past sovereigns, proving they are useful, responsible and responsive to their citizens.

Andrew was putting all that in danger in an time when submission and secrecy is no longer adequate.

Consequences

Finally, the well-known uncertain monarch was pushed further. There was little choice. The royal household had lost control of the narrative.

Presently the removal of honorifics and the continued and permanent personal shame that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Reduction: Demoted to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The initial monarch to forfeit his honorifics in modern times
• Military Service: Especially hurtful given his service in the Falklands war

He remains a royal advisor, in principle able to act for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the throne, but not any of these will ever happen.

Future Prospects

Do individuals he comes across still show respect to him? Will they still slip up and call him Sir? Might they say Sir,

Naturally, he is not moving to suburbia, but to the sovereign's extensive estate at Sandringham.

There, he will be furnished by the monarch with one of the grace and favour houses and given some type of personal stipend.

This differs from his former home, where he paid a token lease for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit distant, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still records in the possession of overseas authorities to be made public.

• Parliamentary Interest: Could lawmakers seek further action
• Fiscal Review: Or scrutinize the misuse of public money
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Maybe for the time being the institutional damage to the monarchy is contained. The message from the palace was clearly that the removal of titles was what the sovereign, and especially other senior royals, desired.

A Shift in Position

The cessation of pretence that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the short communication showed clearly that the royals were supporting the complainant's narrative of occurrences.

Furthermore, for the premiere occasion they finally showed regard for the survivors: "The censures are deemed necessary, regardless of the truth that he persists in refuting the accusations against him."

In the end it is arrogance, self-seeking and indolence that will destroy the crown. In his stupidity, self-gratification and greed, Andrew seems never to have grasped that reality.