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This episode commenced with a solitary photograph, possibly the most impactful ever captured of a individual from the royal household.

In the frame appeared the Baron Killyleagh, standing closely beside a young woman, while a companion grinned suggestively in the backdrop.

Lacking that photograph, shot at a social event in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the claims of a young woman who declared she was moved across the sea and compelled to have cursory relations with a member of the royal bloodline?

An odd, telling action by someone who had openly claimed to have not heard of her, asserted he could never have had relations with her, and yet handed over millions of his mother's money to settle a long-delayed court action.

Over a Decade of Scandal

Against this backdrop, talk of the monarchy acting decisively to cut Andrew off are wide of the mark. This scandal has continued for the majority of 15 years since that image, and another image of Andrew ambling pleasantly with a disgraced financier came to light.

• Hubris: For what duration did his siblings, perhaps even his relatives, know that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his employees and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some deeply disreputable friends given he unabashedly welcomed them to royal residences.
• Financial Extravagance: If the household did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with taxpayer funds.

Travel were documented in official documents: helicopter flights from the estate to a country club and back again in time for dining, exclusive air travel instead of regular transport, all for the comfort of "the travel enthusiast".

Existence of Entitlement

Then there was the arrogance which expected deference when he walked into a room or the extreme consciousness about his royal titles used on his correspondence in messages to his associates.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still alive. The monarch did at least strip him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the wake of his disastrous and, as revealed, deceptive media appearance six years ago.

Recent Developments

Just in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the release of accounts giving more disturbing information of his actions and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again revealed Andrew's assumption that he could avoid lying about his contact with a notorious figure.

People (and the press) were far more perceptive of the royals. There was not a single person of any consequence to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The more astute monarchical figures understood that. The key objective is to hand down the monarchy, if not as before at least complete and untarnished.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to undo the reputation of past sovereigns, demonstrating they are useful, responsible and attentive to their subjects.

Andrew was putting all that in danger in an time when respect and discretion is no longer adequate.

Consequences

Ultimately, the notoriously hesitant king was pushed additional. There was no alternative. The institution had surrendered command of the story.

Presently the removal of titles and the persistent and lifetime public humiliation that will afflict Andrew most deeply.

• Reduction: Lowered to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The first royal to forfeit his honorifics in modern times
• Armed Forces: Especially painful given his duty in the conflict

He remains a royal advisor, on paper able to act for the king, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but neither of these will actually come to pass.

Coming Developments

Can persons he comes across still show respect to him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Would they say Sir,

Certainly, he is not withdrawing to suburbia, but to the royal family's vast grounds at a royal residence.

In that place, he will be supplied by the king with one of the royal residences and given some form of financial support.

It is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a nominal payment for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit remote, but even so it may not be far enough.

Outstanding Concerns

Matters remain unresolved. There are still documents in the hands of US Congress to be disclosed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Might legislators request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or investigate the waste of taxpayer funds
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Perhaps for the present the reputational impact to the institution is restricted. The narrative from the royal household was evidently that the stripping of honorifics was what the sovereign, and especially other senior royals, sought.

Changed Stance

An end to deception that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, significantly, the brief communication showed clearly that the royals were aligning with the accuser's account of events.

Furthermore, for the premiere occasion they eventually showed consideration for the survivors: "These actions are considered essential, notwithstanding the truth that he maintains his innocence of the allegations against him."

In the end it is presumption, self-interest and indolence that will kill the crown. In his foolishness, self-indulgence and greed, Andrew appears never to have learned that lesson.