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It all began with a solitary photograph, perhaps the most impactful ever taken of a royal family member.

In the frame appeared the Earl of Inverness, standing closely beside a young woman, while a companion beamed conspiratorially in the backdrop.

Without that image, shot at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a young woman who said she was moved across the sea and forced to have brief relations with a prince of the royal bloodline?

A strange, revealing gesture by someone who had openly stated to have not known about her, said he could never have had intimate contact with her, and yet handed over a substantial sum of his mother's funds to avert a long-delayed legal case.

Over a Decade of Scandal

Against this backdrop, talk of the monarchy acting firmly to distance themselves from Andrew are misguided. This controversy has continued for the largest portion of 15 years since that photograph, and another snapshot of Andrew walking congenially with a notorious individual emerged.

• Hubris: How long did his brothers and sisters, maybe even his relatives, understand that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his aides and the law enforcement were performing their duties, that he had some deeply disreputable friends given he publicly hosted them to palaces.
• Financial Extravagance: If the household did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his extravagance with state resources.

Trips were listed in royal annual reports: private aircraft travel from the palace to a sporting venue and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of regular transport, all for the comfort of "Airmiles Andy".

Existence of Entitlement

Additionally the presumption which demanded deference when he entered a space or the profound awareness about his honorifics used on his correspondence in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who strangely pampered him, was still alive. The monarch did at least revoke him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his disastrous and, as revealed, deceptive media appearance six years ago.

Recent Developments

Merely in the last two weeks that events accelerated, following the issuance of books giving more troubling details of his actions and that of his associates.

Additional revelations have again revealed Andrew's assumption that he could escape lying about his interaction with a convicted criminal.

People (and the press) were far in advance of the royal family. There was nobody of any importance to speak up for him, a result of all those years of hubris.

Monarchical Concerns

The more intelligent monarchical figures realized that. The primary concern is to transfer the crown, if not as before at least whole and untarnished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to overcome the image of earlier rulers, showing they are useful, responsible and responsive to their people.

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

Aftermath

Ultimately, the famously uncertain monarch was pushed more. There was little choice. The royal household had lost control of the narrative.

Now it is the removal of designations and the continued and lifetime social disgrace that will pain Andrew the most.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Past Example: The initial monarch to lose his titles in recent history
• Naval Career: Especially hurtful given his role in the engagement

He is still a counsellor of state, in principle able to act for the king, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but none of these will ever happen.

Future Prospects

Do individuals he comes across still defer to him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Might they say Andrew,

Of course, he is not moving to an ordinary town, but to the monarchy's extensive property at a monarchical property.

There, he will be supplied by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some form of personal stipend.

This differs from his prior accommodation, where he paid a nominal rent for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit distant, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Outstanding Concerns

This is not over. There are still files in the custody of overseas authorities to be revealed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Could parliament demand more
• Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the misuse of taxpayer funds
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Perhaps for the present the reputational impact to the crown is restricted. The narrative from the institution was plainly that the removal of honorifics was what the sovereign, and notably other senior monarchical figures, sought.

A Shift in Position

No more pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, notably, the concise announcement showed plainly that the royals were siding with the complainant's account of incidents.

Additionally, for the premiere occasion they ultimately showed concern for the survivors: "These actions are deemed necessary, despite the truth that he persists in refuting the accusations against him."

Ultimately it is arrogance, self-seeking and laziness that will destroy the institution. In his foolishness, self-gratification and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have grasped that truth.