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The saga started with a single photograph, possibly the most consequential ever taken of a individual from the royal household.

Present was the Baron Killyleagh, standing closely beside a teenage girl, while a companion smiled conspiratorially in the background.

Lacking that image, captured at a party in 2001, few would have credited the allegations of a adolescent who stated she was moved across the sea and compelled to have cursory intimate contact with a member of the royal family?

An odd, revealing action by someone who had publicly stated to have never known about her, said he could not have had relations with her, and yet paid millions of his mother's resources to avert a long-delayed lawsuit.

Over a Decade of Controversy

In this context, conversations of the royal family acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This controversy has continued for the better part of 15 years since that picture, and a further photo of Andrew ambling amiably with a convicted sex offender emerged.

• Arrogance: For what duration did his family members, possibly even his relatives, know that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his staff and the police were performing their duties, that he had some extremely unsavory associates given he publicly hosted them to royal residences.
• Monetary Excess: If the family did not know about his intimate behaviors, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Trips were listed in public records: private aircraft flights from the estate to a sporting venue and back again in time for dining, exclusive air travel instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "the travel enthusiast".

A Life of Privilege

Furthermore the presumption which expected respect when he walked into a area or the profound awareness about his honorifics used on his correspondence in letters to his personal acquaintances.

He avoided accountability while his matriarch, who unaccountably pampered him, was still alive. The Queen did at least revoke him of official roles and honorary colonelcies in the aftermath of his disastrous and, we now know, mendacious public statement six years ago.

Current Situation

Merely in the last two weeks that events accelerated, following the issuance of accounts giving more disturbing information of his conduct and that of his connections.

More information have again exposed Andrew's thinking that he could get away with lying about his relationship with a notorious figure.

Society (and the press) were far in advance of the royals. There was no one of any significance to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of hubris.

Royal Worries

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

They have spent the last 190 years trying to overcome the reputation of past sovereigns, proving they are useful, responsible and attentive to their subjects.

He was placing all that in jeopardy in an time when submission and discretion is no longer adequate.

The Fallout

Ultimately, the famously uncertain sovereign was pressured more. There was no alternative. The institution had relinquished authority of the narrative.

Presently the loss of honorifics and the persistent and permanent public humiliation that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Demotion: Reduced to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Historical Precedent: The initial royal to forfeit his titles in modern times
• Armed Forces: Particularly hurtful given his service in the conflict

He continues to be a counsellor of state, on paper able to act for the king, and he is still in the lineage to the throne, but none of these will truly come to pass.

What Lies Ahead

Can persons he encounters still acknowledge him? Will they still forget themselves and call him Prince? Might they say Andrew,

Certainly, he is not retiring to an ordinary town, but to the monarchy's large estate at Sandringham.

In that place, he will be furnished by the monarch with one of the royal residences and given some type of personal stipend.

It is not his previous residence, where he paid a minimal rent for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit far, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Pending Matters

The situation continues. There are still files in the possession of overseas authorities to be disclosed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Will parliament request additional information
• Financial Investigation: Or investigate the misuse of taxpayer funds
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a criminal probe into his behavior

Perhaps for the moment the reputational impact to the monarchy is contained. The statement from the royal household was plainly that the stripping of titles was what the king, and particularly other senior family members, desired.

Altered Approach

An end to illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, significantly, the concise communication showed evidently that the royals were supporting the complainant's account of occurrences.

Furthermore, for the first time they eventually showed concern for the victims: "The censures are judged required, despite the truth that he continues to deny the accusations against him."

In the end it is entitlement, selfishness and inactivity that will destroy the institution. In his stupidity, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that reality.