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This episode commenced with a isolated photograph, arguably the most significant ever snapped of a member of the monarchy.

In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a teenage girl, while an associate beamed knowingly in the rear.

Without that snapshot, shot at a party in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the assertions of a teenager who declared she was moved across the sea and compelled to have cursory sexual encounters with a prince of the royal family?

An odd, revealing move by someone who had overtly stated to have no known about her, claimed he could not have had intimate contact with her, and yet paid a substantial sum of his mother's money to avert a long-delayed legal case.

A Long Period of Disgrace

Considering this, talk of the monarchy acting firmly to cut Andrew off are misguided. This scandal has persisted for the majority of 15 years since that photograph, and another image of Andrew strolling congenially with a notorious individual emerged.

• Hubris: For what duration did his family members, maybe even his parents, know that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Problematic Connections: They must have understood, if his aides and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable friends given he openly hosted them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the household did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Journeys were printed in royal annual reports: private aircraft flights from the estate to a golf course and back again in time for lunch, chartered planes instead of regular transport, all for the comfort of "the travel enthusiast".

World of Deference

Then there was the arrogance which required respect when he entered a space or the supreme awareness about his royal titles used on his letterheads in messages to his personal acquaintances.

He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who unaccountably pampered him, was still alive. The Queen did at least remove him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his ill-fated and, it is now clear, deceptive media appearance six years ago.

Recent Developments

It was only in the last fortnight that events sped up, following the release of biographical works giving more troubling information of his behavior and that of his connections.

Additional revelations have again exposed Andrew's assumption that he could avoid lying about his contact with a notorious figure.

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

Royal Worries

The more intelligent monarchical figures understood that. The one imperative is to transfer the monarchy, if not as heretofore at least complete and unstained.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to overcome the legacy of past sovereigns, showing they are beneficial, dutiful and reactive to their subjects.

Andrew was putting all that in jeopardy in an era when submission and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

Aftermath

Finally, the well-known indecisive monarch was prodded additional. There was little choice. The palace had surrendered command of the account.

Currently the stripping of designations and the ongoing and life-long personal shame that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Reduction: Demoted to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Past Example: The primary member to lose his honorifics in recent history
• Armed Forces: Notably painful given his role in the Falklands war

He remains a counsellor of state, in principle able to act for the king, and he is still in the succession to the throne, but neither of these will actually occur.

Future Prospects

Can persons he comes across still show respect to him? Will they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Might they say Andrew,

Naturally, he is not moving to a common area, but to the royal family's extensive grounds at a monarchical property.

In that place, he will be supplied by the sovereign with one of the estate properties and given some sort of private allowance.

It is not his former home, where he paid a nominal payment for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit distant, but even so it may not be far enough.

Unresolved Issues

The situation continues. There are still documents in the custody of American legislators to be disclosed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Might lawmakers request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or investigate the improper use of public money
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his actions

Possibly for the time being the reputational impact to the crown is restricted. The statement from the institution was clearly that the stripping of designations was what the king, and particularly other senior monarchical figures, desired.

Altered Approach

An end to deception that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, notably, the short announcement showed evidently that the royals were siding with the complainant's account of events.

Even more, for the initial instance they eventually showed consideration for the affected individuals: "The measures are judged required, despite the reality that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

Finally it is entitlement, selfishness and laziness that will destroy the monarchy. In his foolishness, personal excess and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have learned that reality.