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The saga started with a single photograph, arguably the most significant ever captured of a royal family member.

In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a female youth, while an associate smiled knowingly in the background.

Without that image, shot at a gathering in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the allegations of a adolescent who declared she was moved across the Atlantic and compelled to have brief relations with a prince of the royal family?

A curious, indicative gesture by someone who had overtly stated to have never been aware of her, claimed he could no have had relations with her, and yet paid millions of monarchical funds to resolve a long-delayed court action.

Over a Decade of Scandal

In this context, talk of the royals acting swiftly to cut Andrew off are misguided. This controversy has endured for the better part of 15 years since that picture, and a further photo of Andrew strolling congenially with a notorious individual came to light.

• Arrogance: To what extent did his siblings, maybe even his parents, understand that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Problematic Connections: They must have known, if his staff and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some deeply disreputable friends given he openly welcomed them to palaces.
• Monetary Excess: If the family did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Travel were printed in public records: helicopter transfers from the estate to a country club and back again in time for lunch, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

Existence of Entitlement

Then there was the arrogance which expected respect when he entered a room or the supreme consciousness about his designations used on his letterheads in letters to his personal acquaintances.

He could get away with it while his mother, who strangely spoiled him, was still alive. The Queen did at least strip him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the aftermath of his catastrophic and, we now know, untruthful television interview six years ago.

Recent Developments

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

Further disclosures have again exposed Andrew's assumption that he could get away with lying about his contact with a convicted criminal.

People (and the media) were far ahead of the royal family. There was not a single person of any consequence to support him, a consequence of all those years of arrogance.

Royal Worries

The more intelligent monarchical figures understood that. The key objective is to hand down the monarchy, if not as before at least whole and unblemished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the legacy of earlier rulers, demonstrating they are valuable, dutiful and reactive to their citizens.

His actions endangered all that in peril in an time when submission and privacy is no longer enough.

The Fallout

Eventually, the well-known hesitant sovereign was pushed more. There was little choice. The institution had lost control of the narrative.

Now it is the stripping of titles and the persistent and life-long social disgrace that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Demotion: Reduced to just a private citizen
• Prior Instance: The initial royal to surrender his titles in modern times
• Naval Career: Especially hurtful given his role in the engagement

He continues to be a royal advisor, on paper able to act for the sovereign, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but none of these will truly occur.

Coming Developments

Can persons he comes across still defer to him? Could they still make mistakes and call him Prince? Will they even say Sir,

Certainly, he is not moving to an ordinary town, but to the royal family's extensive property at a royal residence.

At that location, he will be supplied by the monarch with one of the grace and favour houses and given some form of private allowance.

This is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a minimal payment for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit far, but even so it may not be far enough.

Pending Matters

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

• Political Pressure: Could parliament seek further action
• Fiscal Review: Or scrutinize the improper use of taxpayer funds
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a criminal probe into his conduct

Possibly for the present the reputational impact to the crown is limited. The statement from the palace was plainly that the revocation of titles was what the monarch, and especially other senior royals, desired.

Changed Stance

No more illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, remarkably, the concise statement showed evidently that the royals were supporting the accuser's narrative of events.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they finally showed consideration for the affected individuals: "The measures are judged required, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the accusations against him."

In the end it is entitlement, self-interest and indolence that will undermine the institution. In his folly, personal excess and greed, Andrew appears never to have learned that truth.