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This episode commenced with a isolated photograph, arguably the most significant ever captured of a royal family member.

Present was the Duke of York, standing closely beside a young woman, while a companion beamed knowingly in the rear.

Lacking that snapshot, shot at a gathering in 2001, few would have credited the claims of a adolescent who said she was transported across the sea and forced to have cursory relations with a member of the royal family?

A strange, telling action by someone who had publicly asserted to have no heard of her, claimed he could no have had relations with her, and yet provided a large amount of his mother's funds to settle a drawn-out court action.

Years of Scandal

Against this backdrop, talk of the royals acting decisively to sever ties with Andrew are misguided. This affair has continued for the better part of 15 years since that photograph, and a further image of Andrew walking congenially with a notorious individual emerged.

• Hubris: For what duration did his siblings, maybe even his mother and father, understand that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his employees and the authorities were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory associates given he publicly welcomed them to estates.
• Monetary Excess: If the household did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Travel were printed in royal annual reports: helicopter transfers from the estate to a country club and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the comfort of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Then there was the entitlement which expected respect when he entered a room or the profound obsession about his royal titles used on his correspondence in messages to his personal acquaintances.

He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who unaccountably indulged him, was still alive. The monarch did at least remove him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the wake of his disastrous and, we now know, untruthful television interview six years ago.

Current Situation

Just in the last fortnight that events accelerated, following the publication of books giving more disturbing particulars of his actions and that of his companions.

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

The public (and the press) were far ahead of the monarchy. There was no one of any significance to speak up for him, a outcome of all those years of presumption.

Institutional Fears

The more intelligent royals understood that. The one imperative is to pass on the crown, if not as previously at least intact and unstained.

For generations the last 190 years trying to reverse the reputation of previous monarchs, proving they are useful, accountable and attentive to their subjects.

His actions endangered all that in jeopardy in an era when deference and discretion is no longer enough.

The Fallout

Finally, the well-known indecisive king was pushed more. There was little choice. The palace had surrendered command of the story.

Now it is the stripping of honorifics and the ongoing and life-long social disgrace that will hurt Andrew most deeply.

• Demotion: Lowered to just a commoner
• Prior Instance: The initial monarch to forfeit his designations in modern times
• Armed Forces: Especially hurtful given his role in the engagement

He remains a counsellor of state, theoretically able to stand in for the king, and he is still in the succession to the throne, but not any of these will actually happen.

Coming Developments

Will people he encounters still show respect to him? Could they still forget themselves and call him Sir? Might they say Mr,

Naturally, he is not withdrawing to suburbia, but to the monarchy's extensive property at Sandringham.

In that place, he will be provided by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some type of private allowance.

It is not his former home, where he paid a minimal rent 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 custody of US Congress to be made public.

• Political Pressure: Could lawmakers seek further action
• Financial Investigation: Or investigate the waste of public money
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a police investigation into his conduct

Possibly for the time being the harm to the monarchy to the monarchy is limited. The narrative from the institution was plainly that the revocation of honorifics was what the monarch, and particularly other senior royals, wanted.

A Shift in Position

No more illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, notably, the concise communication showed plainly that the monarchy were supporting the accuser's narrative of incidents.

Additionally, for the premiere occasion they finally showed regard for the affected individuals: "These actions are considered essential, regardless of the truth that he continues to deny the claims against him."

Ultimately it is arrogance, self-interest and indolence that will destroy the monarchy. In his stupidity, self-indulgence and greed, Andrew appears never to have grasped that truth.