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This episode commenced with a isolated photograph, arguably the most significant ever taken of a member of the monarchy.

Present was the Baron Killyleagh, arm-in-arm a teenage girl, while another individual grinned conspiratorially in the background.

Absent that snapshot, taken at a party in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a teenager who said she was trafficked across the sea and obliged to have cursory intimate contact with a member of the royal family?

A curious, indicative action by someone who had overtly asserted to have no been aware of her, asserted he could never have had sex with her, and yet provided a large amount of family funds to settle a long-delayed lawsuit.

Years of Scandal

Against this backdrop, talk of the monarchy acting swiftly to distance themselves from Andrew are wide of the mark. This affair has continued for the better part of 15 years since that image, and an additional photo of Andrew strolling pleasantly with a notorious individual emerged.

• Arrogance: To what extent did his family members, possibly even his parents, realize that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Questionable Associations: They must have known, if his employees and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some highly questionable companions given he unabashedly invited them to palaces.
• Financial Extravagance: If the household did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his overspending with public money.

Journeys were documented in public records: chopper transfers from the estate to a golf course and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the entitlement which required respect when he entered a space or the profound consciousness about his honorifics used on his correspondence in letters to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his mother, who inexplicably indulged him, was still living. The Queen did at least remove him of royal responsibilities and honorary colonelcies in the aftermath of his catastrophic and, it is now clear, untruthful media appearance six years ago.

Recent Developments

Just in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the release of biographical works giving more grim particulars of his behavior and that of his companions.

Further disclosures have again revealed Andrew's assumption that he could escape being untruthful about his relationship with a notorious figure.

People (and the journalists) were far ahead of the monarchy. There was nobody of any significance to support him, a consequence of all those years of hubris.

Royal Worries

The more intelligent monarchical figures understood that. The primary concern is to pass on the institution, if not as before at least intact and untarnished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to overcome the image of earlier rulers, proving they are valuable, accountable and attentive to their subjects.

He was placing all that in danger in an age when submission and discretion is no longer enough.

Aftermath

Eventually, the well-known uncertain monarch was pushed further. There was no alternative. The palace had surrendered command of the account.

Currently the removal of honorifics and the continued and permanent public humiliation that will hurt Andrew the most.

• Demotion: Reduced to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Prior Instance: The first member to lose his designations in modern times
• Military Service: Especially stinging given his duty in the engagement

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

Future Prospects

Can persons he comes across still show respect to him? Might they still forget themselves and call him Prince? Would they say Sir,

Of course, he is not retiring to a common area, but to the monarchy's vast estate at Sandringham.

In that place, he will be provided by the king with one of the estate properties and given some type of personal stipend.

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

Pending Matters

This is not over. There are still records in the possession of US Congress to be disclosed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Might lawmakers demand more
• Financial Investigation: Or scrutinize the waste of taxpayer funds
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a criminal probe into his behavior

Maybe for the present the institutional damage to the institution is contained. The statement from the palace was plainly that the stripping of designations was what the king, and notably other senior family members, sought.

Changed Stance

The cessation of illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, notably, the short announcement showed clearly that the royals were aligning with the accuser's account of events.

Additionally, for the premiere occasion they eventually showed consideration for the victims: "The censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the reality that he maintains his innocence of the claims against him."

In the end it is arrogance, self-seeking and inactivity that will undermine the institution. In his foolishness, self-gratification and venality, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that lesson.