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This episode commenced with a solitary photograph, arguably the most consequential ever captured of a member of the monarchy.

In the frame appeared the Baron Killyleagh, standing closely beside a female youth, while another individual grinned knowingly in the background.

Without that snapshot, taken at a gathering in 2001, few would have credited the assertions of a adolescent who said she was transported across the ocean and obliged to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a individual of the royal bloodline?

An odd, telling action by someone who had publicly stated to have not known about her, asserted he could no have had relations with her, and yet handed over a large amount of monarchical resources to avert a protracted court action.

Years of Scandal

Considering this, talk of the royals acting swiftly to cut Andrew off are misguided. This affair has endured for the largest portion of 15 years since that photograph, and another snapshot of Andrew walking pleasantly with a notorious individual came to light.

• Self-importance: How long did his family members, possibly even his parents, know that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his staff and the police were doing their jobs, that he had some deeply disreputable friends given he unabashedly hosted them to palaces.
• Monetary Excess: If the monarchy did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his extravagance with state resources.

Journeys were listed in official documents: chopper travel from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for lunch, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the benefit of "the travel enthusiast".

World of Deference

Then there was the presumption which required subservience when he walked into a space or the extreme awareness about his honorifics used on his correspondence in letters to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his matriarch, who inexplicably pampered him, was still living. The sovereign did at least revoke him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the wake of his ill-fated and, as revealed, deceptive public statement six years ago.

Recent Developments

Merely in the last fortnight that events accelerated, following the publication of biographical works giving more disturbing particulars of his behavior and that of his associates.

More information have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could escape being untruthful about his contact with a disgraced individual.

People (and the journalists) were far ahead of the monarchy. There was not a single person of any significance to defend him, a consequence of all those years of arrogance.

Institutional Fears

The wiser monarchical figures recognized that. The key objective is to pass on the crown, if not as previously at least whole and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to reverse the image of past sovereigns, proving they are valuable, dutiful and responsive to their citizens.

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

Consequences

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

Now it is the loss of designations and the ongoing and life-long social disgrace that will pain Andrew most deeply.

• Reduction: Demoted to just a commoner
• Prior Instance: The first monarch to forfeit his honorifics in contemporary era
• Military Service: Notably stinging given his service in the conflict

He remains a constitutional officer, theoretically able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the throne, but not any of these will actually come to pass.

Future Prospects

Do individuals he comes across still show respect to him? Might they still slip up and call him Your Highness? Might they say Mr,

Certainly, he is not moving to an ordinary town, but to the royal family's extensive grounds at Sandringham.

There, he will be supplied by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of private allowance.

It is not his former home, where he paid a minimal lease for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit far, but even so it may not be far enough.

Unresolved Issues

The situation continues. There are still documents in the possession of overseas authorities to be made public.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Will parliament request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or scrutinize the improper use of public money
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Perhaps for the moment the harm to the monarchy to the monarchy is contained. The narrative from the institution was evidently that the revocation of honorifics was what the sovereign, and especially other senior royals, sought.

Changed Stance

The cessation of deception that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, remarkably, the brief communication showed evidently that the institution were siding with the complainant's account of events.

Furthermore, for the first time they finally showed regard for the affected individuals: "These actions are deemed necessary, regardless of the reality that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

Finally it is arrogance, self-seeking and inactivity that will kill the crown. In his foolishness, personal excess and venality, Andrew appears never to have grasped that truth.