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This episode commenced with a isolated photograph, perhaps the most significant ever taken of a individual from the royal household.

There stood the Baron Killyleagh, with his arm around a young woman, while a companion beamed knowingly in the backdrop.

Absent that snapshot, captured at a social event in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a young woman who stated she was trafficked across the ocean and obliged to have cursory sexual encounters with a member of the monarchy?

A curious, revealing move by someone who had publicly claimed to have no heard of her, said he could no have had relations with her, and yet handed over a substantial sum of monarchical money to settle a long-delayed legal case.

Years of Scandal

Against this backdrop, discussions of the royals acting swiftly to cut Andrew off are wide of the mark. This scandal has continued for the majority of 15 years since that picture, and a further photo of Andrew ambling pleasantly with a notorious individual emerged.

• Hubris: How long did his family members, possibly even his relatives, know that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Questionable Associations: They must have realized, if his staff and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he publicly invited them to estates.
• Financial Extravagance: If the household did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Trips were documented in public records: private aircraft transfers from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for dining, exclusive air travel instead of regular transport, all for the convenience of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Additionally the entitlement which required deference when he appeared in a space or the extreme consciousness about his designations used on his correspondence in messages to his associates.

He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who inexplicably spoiled him, was still living. The sovereign did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his ill-fated and, as revealed, deceptive public statement six years ago.

Latest Events

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

More information have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could escape lying about his relationship with a notorious figure.

Society (and the journalists) were far in advance of the royals. There was nobody of any importance to defend him, a outcome of all those years of hubris.

Monarchical Concerns

The more intelligent family members realized that. The primary concern is to pass on the crown, if not as before at least whole and unstained.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to overcome the legacy of earlier rulers, demonstrating they are valuable, accountable and responsive to their citizens.

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

Consequences

Ultimately, the famously hesitant sovereign was pushed more. There was no alternative. The palace had relinquished authority of the narrative.

Currently the stripping of designations and the ongoing and life-long social disgrace that will pain Andrew the most.

• Demotion: Lowered to just a private citizen
• Prior Instance: The initial monarch to forfeit his designations in contemporary era
• Armed Forces: Particularly hurtful given his duty in the engagement

He continues to be a constitutional officer, theoretically able to act for the king, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but neither of these will ever happen.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he encounters still acknowledge him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Might they say Andrew,

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

At that location, he will be supplied by the king with one of the estate properties and given some sort of personal stipend.

This differs from his previous residence, 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 sufficiently removed.

Outstanding Concerns

This is not over. There are still records in the possession of US Congress to be made public.

• Political Pressure: Could legislators request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or scrutinize the improper use of state resources
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Perhaps for the present the harm to the monarchy to the monarchy is limited. The message from the royal household was clearly that the removal of titles was what the sovereign, and especially other senior monarchical figures, sought.

Altered Approach

The cessation of pretence that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, remarkably, the brief statement showed plainly that the royals were siding with the complainant's version of events.

Additionally, for the first time they eventually showed concern for the affected individuals: "The censures are considered essential, notwithstanding the fact that he persists in refuting the claims against him."

In the end it is entitlement, selfishness and indolence that will destroy the institution. In his folly, self-indulgence and corruption, Andrew appears never to have grasped that reality.