As Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor contemplates the wreckage of his public life and career, it would be easy to say that his disgrace is complete. In fact, there is a qualifier: his disgrace is almost complete. Despite no longer being a royal prince, the Duke of York or holder of the Order of the Garter, Andrew still retains the title of vice-admiral in the Royal Navy.

This was an honorific bestowed upon him as a 55th birthday present in 2015, with his mother’s enthusiastic approval. He was due to be upgraded to the title of full admiral in 2020 for his 60th, again something in the late queen’s gift, but events, dear boy, intruded and so he was stuck with the lesser honour. And now that is to be stripped from him, too.

Most would wonder why on earth Andrew is still clinging on to this final

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