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

There stood the Baron Killyleagh, with his arm around a young woman, while a companion smiled knowingly in the background.

Without that photograph, taken at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the allegations of a teenager who declared she was transported across the sea and forced to have cursory relations with a prince of the royal family?

A curious, indicative gesture by someone who had publicly claimed to have no been aware of her, claimed he could never have had relations with her, and yet provided a large amount of his mother's funds to resolve a protracted court action.

Over a Decade of Controversy

Against this backdrop, conversations of the monarchy acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This scandal has persisted for the better part of 15 years since that picture, and a further image of Andrew strolling amiably with a notorious individual emerged.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his siblings, perhaps even his relatives, understand that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his aides and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some highly questionable friends given he unabashedly hosted them to royal residences.
• Monetary Excess: If the monarchy did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his extravagance with taxpayer funds.

Journeys were listed in royal annual reports: helicopter travel from the royal residence to a golf course and back again in time for dining, private flights instead of commercial flights, all for the comfort of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Additionally the entitlement which expected subservience when he walked into a space or the supreme awareness about his designations used on his letterheads in messages to his personal acquaintances.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who inexplicably pampered him, was still alive. The monarch did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the consequence of his ill-fated and, as revealed, untruthful television interview six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last fortnight that events progressed rapidly, following the publication of biographical works giving more disturbing information of his conduct and that of his associates.

More information have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could avoid lying about his interaction with a convicted criminal.

Society (and the journalists) were far more perceptive of the royal family. There was not a single person of any consequence to speak up for him, a outcome of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser monarchical figures recognized that. The primary concern is to pass on the crown, if not as heretofore at least intact and unblemished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of past sovereigns, showing they are beneficial, responsible and responsive to their people.

His actions endangered all that in danger in an time when deference and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

Aftermath

Eventually, the well-known indecisive monarch was pushed more. There was little choice. The palace had relinquished authority of the account.

Presently the loss of titles and the persistent and lifetime social disgrace that will pain Andrew the most.

• Downgrading: Reduced to just a private citizen
• Past Example: The first monarch to lose his designations in contemporary era
• Naval Career: Particularly painful given his service in the conflict

He is still a counsellor of state, in principle able to act for the sovereign, and he is still in the lineage to the monarchy, but neither of these will truly occur.

Coming Developments

Will people he encounters still defer to him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Your Highness? Would they say Andrew,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the monarchy's large grounds at a royal residence.

There, he will be furnished by the monarch with one of the estate properties and given some form of financial support.

This differs from his former home, where he paid a minimal payment for more than 20 years, and the county is a bit distant, but even so it may not be far enough.

Unresolved Issues

This is not over. There are still records in the hands of American legislators to be revealed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Could parliament seek further action
• Fiscal Review: Or scrutinize the misuse of state resources
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Perhaps for the time being the reputational impact to the monarchy is limited. The message from the institution was plainly that the revocation of honorifics was what the monarch, and particularly other senior royals, desired.

Changed Stance

An end to deception that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, notably, the short statement showed evidently that the royals were supporting the victim's version of occurrences.

Additionally, for the first time they finally showed consideration for the victims: "These actions are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the reality that he persists in refuting the accusations against him."

Ultimately it is arrogance, selfishness and indolence that will undermine the monarchy. In his folly, self-indulgence and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that truth.