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This episode commenced with a single photograph, possibly the most consequential ever captured of a royal family member.

There stood the Baron Killyleagh, arm-in-arm a teenage girl, while an associate grinned knowingly in the rear.

Lacking that snapshot, captured at a social event in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the assertions of a adolescent who stated she was trafficked across the sea and obliged to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a prince of the monarchy?

An odd, revealing gesture by someone who had publicly stated to have not been aware of her, said he could no have had relations with her, and yet paid millions of his mother's resources to avert a protracted legal case.

Over a Decade of Scandal

In this context, discussions of the royal family acting decisively to cut Andrew off are wide of the mark. This affair has endured for the better part of 15 years since that photograph, and another snapshot of Andrew walking congenially with a disgraced financier surfaced.

• Self-importance: For what duration did his siblings, perhaps even his relatives, understand that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his staff and the police were doing their jobs, that he had some highly questionable companions given he openly hosted them to estates.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his wastefulness with public money.

Trips were documented in public records: private aircraft flights from the estate to a sporting venue and back again in time for dining, private flights instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "the frequent flyer".

World of Deference

Then there was the presumption which expected deference when he entered a space or the profound awareness about his designations used on his letterheads in letters to his friends.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who inexplicably spoiled him, was still surviving. The monarch did at least revoke him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his catastrophic and, it is now clear, deceptive public statement six years ago.

Recent Developments

Just in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the release of accounts giving more disturbing information of his actions and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again highlighted Andrew's belief that he could avoid being untruthful about his relationship with a convicted criminal.

People (and the press) were far more perceptive of the monarchy. There was nobody of any significance to speak up for him, a result of all those years of arrogance.

Royal Worries

The more intelligent family members realized that. The primary concern is to pass on the crown, if not as before at least complete and unblemished.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of previous monarchs, demonstrating they are beneficial, responsible and responsive to their citizens.

His actions endangered all that in danger in an time when respect and secrecy is no longer adequate.

Aftermath

Eventually, the famously uncertain king was pushed more. There was little choice. The royal household had surrendered command of the narrative.

Now it is the stripping of designations and the persistent and permanent personal shame that will afflict Andrew most deeply.

• Demotion: Reduced to just a commoner
• Prior Instance: The initial royal to surrender his honorifics in modern times
• Military Service: Particularly hurtful given his service in the conflict

He remains a royal advisor, theoretically able to substitute for the sovereign, and he is still eighth in line to the monarchy, but none of these will ever come to pass.

Future Prospects

Will people he meets still acknowledge him? Could they still slip up and call him Your Highness? Will they even say Andrew,

Certainly, he is not retiring to a common area, but to the royal family's large grounds at a royal residence.

In that place, he will be furnished by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some type of financial support.

This is not his former home, where he paid a token payment for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit remote, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Pending Matters

This is not over. There are still documents in the hands of overseas authorities to be made public.

• Political Pressure: Could lawmakers request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or examine the misuse of taxpayer funds
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a police investigation into his behavior

Perhaps for the time being the institutional damage to the monarchy is contained. The statement from the institution was clearly that the removal of honorifics was what the king, and especially other senior family members, desired.

A Shift in Position

No more pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, notably, the brief communication showed evidently that the institution were supporting the complainant's account of incidents.

Even more, for the initial instance they eventually showed consideration for the affected individuals: "These actions are judged required, regardless of the reality that he continues to deny the accusations against him."

Finally it is entitlement, self-interest and indolence that will kill the crown. In his folly, personal excess and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have learned that reality.