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It all began with a single photograph, perhaps the most consequential ever captured of a royal family member.

In the frame appeared the Baron Killyleagh, with his arm around a female youth, while an associate grinned conspiratorially in the backdrop.

Lacking that image, shot at a social event in 2001, few would have credited the claims of a teenager who declared she was trafficked across the ocean and forced to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a prince of the monarchy?

A curious, telling move by someone who had overtly asserted to have no heard of her, asserted he could not have had sex with her, and yet provided millions of his mother's funds to avert a protracted lawsuit.

Years of Controversy

Considering this, talk of the monarchy acting decisively to cut Andrew off are inaccurate. This controversy has endured for the majority of 15 years since that picture, and another photo of Andrew strolling congenially with a convicted sex offender surfaced.

• Hubris: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his parents, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Problematic Connections: They must have understood, if his staff and the police were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he openly invited them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Travel were documented in royal annual reports: helicopter travel from the estate to a country club and back again in time for lunch, private flights instead of commercial flights, all for the comfort of "Airmiles Andy".

World of Deference

Additionally the presumption which expected subservience when he appeared in a space or the profound obsession about his designations used on his official documents in letters to his associates.

He could get away with it while his mother, who inexplicably pampered him, was still surviving. The Queen did at least strip him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the consequence of his disastrous and, as revealed, untruthful media appearance six years ago.

Latest Events

It was only in the last two weeks that events accelerated, following the release of accounts giving more troubling information of his conduct and that of his connections.

Additional revelations have again exposed Andrew's belief that he could avoid deceiving about his relationship with a convicted criminal.

People (and the press) were far ahead of the royals. There was not a single person of any consequence to support him, a consequence of all those years of presumption.

Monarchical Concerns

The more astute monarchical figures realized that. The primary concern is to hand down the crown, if not as before at least complete and unstained.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to reverse the image of earlier rulers, demonstrating they are useful, dutiful and responsive to their subjects.

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

Aftermath

Ultimately, the well-known indecisive king was pushed further. There was little choice. The palace had lost control of the account.

Currently the stripping of designations and the persistent and lifetime personal shame that will hurt Andrew most deeply.

• Downgrading: Lowered to just a commoner
• Past Example: The initial royal to lose his honorifics in modern times
• Naval Career: Particularly painful given his role in the conflict

He continues to be a royal advisor, on paper able to stand in for the king, and he is still in the succession to the throne, but none of these will truly happen.

Future Prospects

Can persons he meets still acknowledge him? Will they still slip up and call him Prince? Might they say Mr,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the royal family's vast estate at a royal residence.

In that place, he will be provided by the monarch with one of the royal residences and given some type of private allowance.

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

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still records in the custody of overseas authorities to be disclosed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Might parliament request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or investigate the misuse of taxpayer funds
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a criminal probe into his actions

Maybe for the present the reputational impact to the institution is contained. The message from the institution was evidently that the removal of designations was what the king, and especially other senior family members, sought.

A Shift in Position

The cessation of illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, notably, the short statement showed clearly that the monarchy were siding with the accuser's version of events.

Even more, for the initial instance they ultimately showed concern for the survivors: "The censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

Ultimately it is presumption, selfishness and indolence that will destroy the monarchy. In his stupidity, personal excess and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that lesson.