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

There stood the Duke of York, with his arm around a teenage girl, while an associate beamed conspiratorially in the rear.

Without that snapshot, shot at a gathering in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the assertions of a adolescent who said she was trafficked across the sea and compelled to have brief sexual encounters with a member of the royal family?

A curious, telling move by someone who had publicly claimed to have never known about her, asserted he could never have had sex with her, and yet paid millions of family resources to resolve a drawn-out legal case.

Over a Decade of Controversy

In this context, discussions of the royal family acting firmly to distance themselves from Andrew are inaccurate. This controversy has endured for the majority of 15 years since that picture, and a further photo of Andrew strolling amiably with a notorious individual emerged.

• Hubris: To what extent did his siblings, perhaps even his parents, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have known, if his aides and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some highly questionable friends given he unabashedly welcomed them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the household did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Trips were documented in royal annual reports: helicopter flights from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for lunch, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the comfort of "the travel enthusiast".

Existence of Entitlement

Furthermore the arrogance which expected subservience when he walked into a space or the profound awareness about his designations used on his correspondence in messages to his associates.

He could get away with it while his mother, who unaccountably pampered him, was still living. The monarch did at least revoke him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the aftermath of his disastrous and, as revealed, untruthful public statement six years ago.

Recent Developments

Merely in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the issuance of accounts giving more disturbing details of his behavior and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's assumption that he could escape deceiving about his contact with a notorious figure.

Society (and the media) were far more perceptive of the monarchy. There was nobody of any significance to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of hubris.

Royal Worries

The more astute monarchical figures realized that. The key objective is to pass on the monarchy, if not as previously at least complete and untarnished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of earlier rulers, proving they are beneficial, responsible and reactive to their subjects.

He was placing all that in peril in an era when submission and discretion is no longer sufficient.

Consequences

Ultimately, the well-known uncertain monarch was pushed further. There was no other option. The institution had relinquished authority of the story.

Now it is the stripping of honorifics and the ongoing and permanent personal shame that will pain Andrew most deeply.

• Downgrading: Demoted to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Prior Instance: The primary monarch to forfeit his honorifics in modern times
• Military Service: Particularly stinging given his service in the conflict

He continues to be a constitutional officer, in principle able to act for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the monarchy, but neither of these will truly occur.

What Lies Ahead

Do individuals he encounters still show respect to him? Might they still slip up and call him Your Highness? Might they say Sir,

Certainly, he is not moving to a common area, but to the sovereign's large estate at a royal residence.

There, he will be supplied by the king with one of the estate properties and given some form of personal stipend.

This differs from his previous residence, where he paid a token payment for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit distant, but even so it may not be far enough.

Outstanding Concerns

This is not over. There are still documents in the possession of US Congress to be revealed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Might lawmakers request additional information
• Monetary Probe: Or investigate the misuse of public money
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a criminal probe into his behavior

Possibly for the present the reputational impact to the monarchy is restricted. The narrative from the royal household was evidently that the removal of designations was what the monarch, and notably other senior royals, wanted.

Changed Stance

An end to illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, significantly, the brief announcement showed evidently that the monarchy were supporting the accuser's narrative of events.

Additionally, for the premiere occasion they ultimately showed consideration for the victims: "The measures are considered essential, notwithstanding the reality that he continues to deny the allegations against him."

Ultimately it is presumption, self-interest and indolence that will destroy the crown. In his foolishness, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew appears never to have grasped that truth.