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

In the frame appeared the Baron Killyleagh, standing closely beside a female youth, while a companion grinned conspiratorially in the rear.

Lacking that image, captured at a gathering in 2001, few would have credited the assertions of a adolescent who said she was transported across the sea and compelled to have brief relations with a member of the monarchy?

A strange, indicative gesture by someone who had publicly stated to have never heard of her, asserted he could no have had sex with her, and yet handed over a large amount of his mother's funds to settle a drawn-out legal case.

A Long Period of Disgrace

In this context, discussions of the monarchy acting swiftly to cut Andrew off are misguided. This affair has persisted for the largest portion of 15 years since that picture, and a further photo of Andrew walking congenially with a notorious individual surfaced.

• Arrogance: To what extent did his family members, possibly even his relatives, realize that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his employees and the law enforcement were fulfilling their roles, that he had some deeply disreputable companions given he openly welcomed them to royal residences.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the household did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with state resources.

Journeys were documented in royal annual reports: chopper transfers from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

World of Deference

Additionally the arrogance which expected subservience when he walked into a room or the extreme consciousness about his royal titles used on his correspondence in letters to his friends.

He could get away with it while his mother, who strangely indulged him, was still alive. The sovereign did at least revoke him of public duties and honorary colonelcies in the consequence of his catastrophic and, we now know, deceptive media appearance six years ago.

Latest Events

Merely in the last fortnight that events progressed rapidly, following the release of books giving more disturbing particulars of his conduct and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again exposed Andrew's assumption that he could escape deceiving about his interaction with a convicted criminal.

Society (and the journalists) were far more perceptive of the monarchy. There was no one of any significance to defend him, a result of all those years of arrogance.

Monarchical Concerns

The wiser monarchical figures realized that. The one imperative is to pass on the crown, if not as before at least whole and unstained.

Over time the last 190 years trying to overcome the reputation of previous monarchs, demonstrating they are beneficial, dutiful and attentive to their people.

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

The Fallout

Finally, the notoriously indecisive monarch was prodded more. There was little choice. The institution had lost control of the account.

Presently the stripping of designations and the ongoing and lifetime public humiliation that will hurt Andrew the most.

• Demotion: Reduced to just a private citizen
• Past Example: The initial royal to lose his titles in contemporary era
• Naval Career: Particularly stinging given his role in the engagement

He continues to be a royal advisor, theoretically able to stand in for the sovereign, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but not any of these will actually occur.

Coming Developments

Can persons he comes across still defer to him? Could they still forget themselves and call him Prince? Would they say Sir,

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

At that location, he will be supplied by the sovereign with one of the estate properties and given some sort of personal stipend.

It is not his previous residence, where he paid a nominal lease for more than 20 years, and the area is a bit distant, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still records in the hands of US Congress to be revealed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Could parliament demand more
• Monetary Probe: Or investigate the waste of public money
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a criminal probe into his actions

Perhaps for the moment the reputational impact to the institution is contained. The message from the royal household was evidently that the revocation of designations was what the sovereign, and notably other senior monarchical figures, wanted.

Changed Stance

No more illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, significantly, the short statement showed clearly that the institution were siding with the accuser's account of events.

Furthermore, for the initial instance they finally showed concern for the victims: "The measures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the reality that he persists in refuting the claims against him."

Finally it is arrogance, self-interest and indolence that will kill the institution. In his foolishness, self-indulgence and greed, Andrew gives the impression never to have learned that lesson.