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This episode commenced with a single photograph, possibly the most consequential ever taken of a royal family member.

In the frame appeared the Baron Killyleagh, with his arm around a teenage girl, while an associate beamed suggestively in the rear.

Without that image, taken at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a young woman who said she was trafficked across the Atlantic and obliged to have cursory sexual encounters with a prince of the monarchy?

A strange, telling gesture by someone who had publicly claimed to have not been aware of her, asserted he could not have had intimate contact with her, and yet handed over millions of family money to settle a protracted court action.

Over a Decade of Disgrace

Considering this, conversations of the monarchy acting decisively to distance themselves from Andrew are inaccurate. This controversy has endured for the better part of 15 years since that photograph, and a further photo of Andrew ambling congenially with a notorious individual surfaced.

• Hubris: How long did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his relatives, understand that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his staff and the police were performing their duties, that he had some extremely unsavory associates given he unabashedly hosted them to estates.
• Financial Extravagance: If the monarchy did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Journeys were printed in official documents: private aircraft travel from the royal residence to a sporting venue 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 subservience when he entered a room or the profound awareness about his royal titles used on his letterheads in letters to his associates.

He could get away with it while his mother, who inexplicably indulged him, was still surviving. The monarch did at least strip him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the wake of his disastrous and, as revealed, deceptive television interview six years ago.

Recent Developments

Just in the last 14 days that events progressed rapidly, following the release of accounts giving more grim information of his conduct and that of his companions.

More information have again revealed Andrew's belief that he could avoid deceiving about his contact with a convicted criminal.

Society (and the journalists) were far in advance of the royals. There was not a single person of any significance to speak up for him, a result of all those years of arrogance.

Institutional Fears

The wiser monarchical figures recognized that. The key objective is to transfer the monarchy, if not as before at least intact and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of previous monarchs, demonstrating they are valuable, dutiful and responsive to their subjects.

Andrew was putting all that in jeopardy in an time when deference and secrecy is no longer enough.

The Fallout

Finally, the famously hesitant king was pushed more. There was little choice. The institution had lost control of the account.

Now it is the loss of titles and the continued and permanent personal shame that will afflict Andrew most deeply.

• Demotion: Demoted to just a private citizen
• Prior Instance: The initial royal to forfeit his titles in contemporary era
• Naval Career: Especially hurtful given his duty in the conflict

He remains a constitutional officer, in principle able to substitute for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the throne, but not any of these will actually occur.

Coming Developments

Will people he comes across still defer to him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Prince? Might they say Sir,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to a common area, but to the monarchy's extensive property at a monarchical property.

At that location, he will be provided by the king with one of the estate properties and given some type of private allowance.

This is not his former home, where he paid a nominal rent for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit remote, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Outstanding Concerns

Matters remain unresolved. There are still documents in the custody of overseas authorities to be disclosed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Will legislators demand more
• Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the improper use of public money
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Perhaps for the time being the institutional damage to the monarchy is limited. The narrative from the royal household was evidently that the stripping of designations was what the sovereign, and particularly other senior monarchical figures, desired.

Altered Approach

No more pretence that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the brief statement showed evidently that the institution were siding with the accuser's account of occurrences.

Even more, for the initial instance they ultimately showed regard for the affected individuals: "The measures are considered essential, notwithstanding the truth that he maintains his innocence of the allegations against him."

Ultimately it is presumption, selfishness and indolence that will kill the monarchy. In his stupidity, personal excess and greed, Andrew seems never to have learned that truth.