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The saga started with a isolated photograph, perhaps the most significant ever snapped of a royal family member.

Present was the Baron Killyleagh, arm-in-arm a female youth, while a companion smiled knowingly in the rear.

Absent that photograph, shot at a party in 2001, few would have credited the claims of a adolescent who said she was transported across the ocean and obliged to have cursory intimate contact with a individual of the royal family?

A strange, telling move by someone who had publicly stated to have no been aware of her, said he could not have had relations with her, and yet handed over millions of monarchical funds to avert a protracted lawsuit.

Over a Decade of Controversy

Against this backdrop, conversations of the monarchy acting decisively to distance themselves from Andrew are misguided. This affair has continued for the majority of 15 years since that image, and a further photo of Andrew walking congenially with a convicted sex offender surfaced.

• Self-importance: How long did his siblings, maybe even his parents, realize that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his staff and the law enforcement were performing their duties, that he had some highly questionable companions given he openly hosted them to palaces.
• Monetary Excess: If the monarchy did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Journeys were documented in royal annual reports: chopper flights from the palace to a sporting venue and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the arrogance which required respect when he walked into a space or the extreme awareness about his honorifics used on his correspondence in messages to his associates.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who inexplicably pampered him, was still alive. The Queen did at least strip him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the wake of his disastrous and, we now know, mendacious media appearance six years ago.

Latest Events

Just in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the release of accounts giving more grim information of his behavior and that of his associates.

More information have again exposed Andrew's assumption that he could escape being untruthful about his contact with a notorious figure.

Society (and the press) were far more perceptive of the royal family. There was nobody of any importance to support him, a consequence of all those years of hubris.

Royal Worries

The more astute family members understood that. The primary concern is to pass on the crown, if not as previously at least complete and unstained.

For generations the last 190 years trying to undo the image of earlier rulers, demonstrating they are valuable, accountable and reactive to their people.

He was placing all that in peril in an era when deference and privacy is no longer enough.

Consequences

Finally, the notoriously indecisive sovereign was prodded further. There was little choice. The palace had relinquished authority of the story.

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

• Demotion: Lowered to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The initial member to forfeit his honorifics in recent history
• Naval Career: Particularly stinging given his duty in the conflict

He continues to be a royal advisor, in principle able to act for the king, and he is still in the succession to the monarchy, but not any of these will truly come to pass.

Future Prospects

Do individuals he encounters still show respect to him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Might they say Andrew,

Naturally, he is not moving to a common area, but to the monarchy's large property at a royal residence.

In that place, he will be provided by the monarch with one of the estate properties 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 Norfolk is a bit remote, but even so it may not be far enough.

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still documents in the possession of US Congress to be made public.

• Political Pressure: Might lawmakers request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or scrutinize the waste of public money
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a criminal probe into his conduct

Possibly for the moment the reputational impact to the crown is contained. The statement from the royal household was evidently that the stripping of titles was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior family members, desired.

Altered Approach

No more pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the brief announcement showed plainly that the institution were supporting the victim's account of incidents.

Additionally, for the first time they finally showed concern for the survivors: "These actions are judged required, notwithstanding the truth that he persists in refuting the claims against him."

Ultimately it is arrogance, self-seeking and indolence that will undermine the crown. In his folly, self-gratification and greed, Andrew gives the impression never to have learned that reality.