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This episode commenced with a isolated photograph, possibly the most significant ever captured of a individual from the royal household.

There stood the Duke of York, standing closely beside a young woman, while another individual smiled suggestively in the rear.

Without that snapshot, taken at a party in 2001, few would have credited the assertions of a young woman who said she was trafficked across the ocean and forced to have cursory intimate contact with a prince of the royal family?

A strange, telling move by someone who had overtly asserted to have no heard of her, claimed he could no have had sex with her, and yet handed over millions of his mother's money to resolve a long-delayed lawsuit.

Years of Disgrace

In this context, discussions of the royal family acting decisively to distance themselves from Andrew are misguided. This affair has persisted for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and a further image of Andrew walking amiably with a notorious individual surfaced.

• Hubris: To what extent did his family members, perhaps even his relatives, understand that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his aides and the law enforcement were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he openly invited them to royal residences.
• Financial Extravagance: If the monarchy did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Journeys were documented in royal annual reports: chopper transfers from the estate to a golf course and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of commercial flights, all for the convenience of "the frequent flyer".

Existence of Entitlement

Additionally the presumption which required subservience when he walked into a space or the profound consciousness about his designations used on his official documents in messages to his friends.

He managed to escape consequences while his parent, who strangely pampered him, was still alive. The monarch did at least strip him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his ill-fated and, we now know, untruthful media appearance six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last fortnight that events sped up, following the issuance of accounts giving more grim information of his actions and that of his associates.

More information have again revealed Andrew's thinking that he could get away with being untruthful about his interaction with a convicted criminal.

People (and the journalists) were far in advance of the royal family. There was nobody of any importance to speak up for him, a outcome of all those years of hubris.

Royal Worries

The more intelligent royals recognized that. The primary concern is to pass on the monarchy, if not as previously at least whole and untarnished.

Over time the last 190 years trying to undo the image of earlier rulers, showing they are valuable, dutiful and attentive to their people.

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

The Fallout

Eventually, the well-known hesitant sovereign was prodded more. There was no other option. The palace had surrendered command of the narrative.

Presently the loss of designations and the persistent and lifetime public humiliation that will pain Andrew the most.

• Demotion: Reduced to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Past Example: The initial monarch to lose his titles in contemporary era
• Military Service: Especially hurtful given his service in the Falklands war

He continues to be a royal advisor, in principle able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still in the lineage to the throne, but not any of these will actually come to pass.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he meets still acknowledge him? Could they still forget themselves and call him Your Highness? Might they say Mr,

Certainly, he is not withdrawing to a common area, but to the sovereign's large property at a royal residence.

There, he will be furnished by the sovereign with one of the royal residences and given some sort of private allowance.

It is not his previous residence, where he paid a nominal lease for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit far, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still files in the possession of US Congress to be disclosed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Will legislators seek further action
• Fiscal Review: Or examine the misuse of taxpayer funds
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a criminal probe into his conduct

Maybe for the time being the institutional damage to the crown is contained. The narrative from the institution was clearly that the stripping of titles was what the sovereign, and notably other senior family members, wanted.

Changed Stance

The cessation of pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, significantly, the concise communication showed plainly that the monarchy were aligning with the complainant's narrative of incidents.

Even more, for the first time they eventually showed regard for the affected individuals: "These actions are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the accusations against him."

Finally it is entitlement, selfishness and indolence that will destroy the monarchy. In his stupidity, self-gratification and venality, Andrew appears never to have learned that truth.