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The saga started with a solitary photograph, arguably the most impactful ever snapped of a member of the monarchy.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, arm-in-arm a young woman, while a companion smiled suggestively in the rear.

Absent that snapshot, shot at a gathering in 2001, few would have credited the assertions of a teenager who declared she was trafficked across the ocean and compelled to have brief relations with a individual of the royal family?

A strange, telling gesture by someone who had publicly claimed to have not heard of her, claimed he could no have had relations with her, and yet provided a large amount of monarchical funds to settle a long-delayed legal case.

Over a Decade of Controversy

In this context, discussions of the royal family acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This affair has continued for the largest portion of 15 years since that photograph, and another photo of Andrew ambling congenially with a convicted sex offender surfaced.

• Self-importance: To what extent did his siblings, perhaps even his relatives, know that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have known, if his staff and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he unabashedly hosted them to palaces.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his extravagance with public money.

Trips were documented in official documents: private aircraft flights from the estate to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of regular transport, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

World of Deference

Furthermore the entitlement which expected subservience when he entered a space or the extreme obsession about his royal titles used on his official documents in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who unaccountably indulged him, was still surviving. The sovereign did at least revoke him of public duties and military positions in the consequence of his catastrophic and, we now know, untruthful media appearance six years ago.

Recent Developments

Merely in the last fortnight that events accelerated, following the publication of biographical works giving more grim particulars of his conduct and that of his companions.

Additional revelations have again revealed Andrew's thinking that he could avoid deceiving about his contact with a convicted criminal.

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

Royal Worries

The more astute royals recognized that. The key objective is to transfer the monarchy, if not as before at least whole and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to overcome the legacy of past sovereigns, demonstrating they are useful, dutiful and attentive to their subjects.

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

The Fallout

Eventually, the notoriously uncertain sovereign was pressured more. There was no other option. The royal household had relinquished authority of the narrative.

Now it is the removal of titles and the ongoing and permanent public humiliation that will afflict Andrew most severely.

• Reduction: Reduced to just a commoner
• Historical Precedent: The initial member to lose his titles in modern times
• Naval Career: Particularly painful given his service in the conflict

He remains a constitutional officer, on paper able to act for the sovereign, and he is still in the lineage to the throne, but none of these will ever occur.

Coming Developments

Will people he comes across still acknowledge him? Will they still forget themselves and call him Your Highness? Will they even say Mr,

Certainly, he is not moving to a common area, but to the monarchy's vast estate at Sandringham.

There, he will be supplied by the sovereign with one of the royal residences and given some sort of private allowance.

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

Pending Matters

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

• Parliamentary Interest: Will legislators seek further action
• Monetary Probe: Or scrutinize the misuse of taxpayer funds
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a criminal probe into his behavior

Perhaps for the time being the reputational impact to the monarchy is limited. The message from the palace was plainly that the revocation of honorifics was what the king, and especially other senior family members, wanted.

Altered Approach

No more deception that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, significantly, the brief announcement showed plainly that the royals were siding with the victim's narrative of incidents.

Additionally, for the first time they finally showed regard for the victims: "These actions are judged required, regardless of the truth that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

In the end it is presumption, selfishness and laziness that will undermine the monarchy. In his stupidity, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that truth.