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

In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a young woman, while an associate grinned knowingly in the rear.

Without that image, taken at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a teenager who stated she was moved across the sea and forced to have cursory intimate contact with a member of the royal bloodline?

A curious, telling action by someone who had openly claimed to have no heard of her, said he could no have had sex with her, and yet provided a large amount of family funds to avert a drawn-out legal case.

A Long Period of Controversy

In this context, discussions of the royal family acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This controversy has continued for the largest portion of 15 years since that picture, and another image of Andrew strolling amiably with a convicted sex offender surfaced.

• Self-importance: How long did his family members, maybe even his relatives, know that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his aides and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he unabashedly hosted them to estates.
• Financial Extravagance: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Journeys were listed in royal annual reports: chopper transfers from the estate to a sporting venue and back again in time for dining, exclusive air travel instead of regular transport, all for the comfort of "Airmiles Andy".

World of Deference

Additionally the presumption which required respect when he walked into a area or the extreme obsession about his royal titles used on his letterheads in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He could get away with it while his matriarch, who strangely spoiled him, was still surviving. The Queen did at least remove him of public duties and honorary colonelcies in the aftermath of his disastrous and, it is now clear, untruthful television interview six years ago.

Latest Events

Merely in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the publication of accounts giving more grim details of his conduct and that of his associates.

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

Society (and the media) were far more perceptive of the royals. There was not a single person of any significance to defend him, a result of all those years of arrogance.

Institutional Fears

The more astute royals recognized that. The primary concern is to hand down the institution, if not as heretofore at least complete and unblemished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the image of earlier rulers, showing they are valuable, responsible and responsive to their subjects.

His actions endangered all that in danger in an age when deference and secrecy is no longer adequate.

Aftermath

Eventually, the famously indecisive king was prodded more. There was no alternative. The royal household had surrendered command of the account.

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

• Reduction: Lowered to just a commoner
• Prior Instance: The initial royal to lose his titles in contemporary era
• Military Service: Especially hurtful given his role in the Falklands war

He is still a constitutional officer, theoretically able to stand in for the sovereign, and he is still in the lineage to the crown, but neither of these will actually occur.

Coming Developments

Can persons he encounters still show respect to him? Will they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Would they say Mr,

Of course, he is not moving to a common area, but to the royal family's extensive property at a royal residence.

In that place, he will be furnished by the sovereign with one of the estate properties and given some type of personal stipend.

It is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a token rent for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit far, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Pending Matters

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

• Political Pressure: Might legislators request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or scrutinize the waste of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a police investigation into his behavior

Maybe for the time being the reputational impact to the institution is restricted. The narrative from the institution was clearly that the removal of designations was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior royals, desired.

Changed Stance

An end to illusion that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, remarkably, the short statement showed evidently that the royals were supporting the complainant's account of incidents.

Furthermore, for the first time they ultimately showed regard for the victims: "The measures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the reality that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

Ultimately it is presumption, self-interest and indolence that will destroy the monarchy. In his foolishness, self-indulgence and venality, Andrew appears never to have understood that lesson.