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

There stood the Baron Killyleagh, arm-in-arm a teenage girl, while an associate smiled conspiratorially in the backdrop.

Lacking that photograph, taken at a social event in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the claims of a young woman who declared she was trafficked across the Atlantic and obliged to have cursory relations with a prince of the royal family?

A strange, revealing gesture by someone who had publicly stated to have no been aware of her, said he could not have had relations with her, and yet paid a large amount of monarchical money to settle a protracted legal case.

A Long Period of Scandal

In this context, conversations of the royals acting firmly to distance themselves from Andrew are misguided. This affair has persisted for the better part of 15 years since that image, and another snapshot of Andrew strolling pleasantly with a convicted sex offender came to light.

• Hubris: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, maybe even his relatives, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his staff and the law enforcement were fulfilling their roles, that he had some extremely unsavory companions given he unabashedly hosted them to royal residences.
• Financial Extravagance: If the family did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his overspending with state resources.

Travel were documented in royal annual reports: chopper transfers from the royal residence to a country club and back again in time for lunch, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

A Life of Privilege

Additionally the entitlement which demanded respect when he appeared in a area or the extreme obsession about his honorifics used on his letterheads in messages to his associates.

He could get away with it while his parent, who unaccountably spoiled him, was still living. The monarch did at least strip him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his disastrous and, as revealed, untruthful public statement six years ago.

Current Situation

Merely in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the publication of books giving more troubling details of his conduct and that of his connections.

More information have again highlighted Andrew's assumption that he could avoid lying about his relationship with a disgraced individual.

Society (and the press) were far ahead of the royal family. There was not a single person of any importance to defend him, a consequence of all those years of hubris.

Institutional Fears

The more intelligent royals recognized that. The one imperative is to transfer the crown, if not as heretofore at least whole and unblemished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to undo the reputation of earlier rulers, demonstrating they are useful, dutiful and attentive to their people.

Andrew was putting all that in peril in an time when submission and secrecy is no longer sufficient.

Consequences

Finally, the famously uncertain monarch was pressured more. There was no other option. The palace had relinquished authority of the account.

Currently the stripping of designations and the ongoing and lifetime public humiliation that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Reduction: Demoted to just a commoner
• Past Example: The first monarch to surrender his titles in modern times
• Armed Forces: Particularly stinging given his role in the conflict

He remains a royal advisor, theoretically able to substitute for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but neither of these will truly happen.

Coming Developments

Do individuals he comes across still acknowledge him? Will they still slip up and call him Sir? Would they say Mr,

Naturally, he is not moving to a common area, but to the royal family's vast grounds at a royal residence.

At that location, he will be supplied by the king with one of the royal residences and given some sort of private allowance.

It is not his former home, where he paid a minimal rent 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 records in the hands of US Congress to be disclosed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Could parliament demand more
• Fiscal Review: Or investigate the misuse of taxpayer funds
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his conduct

Perhaps for the present the reputational impact to the institution is limited. The narrative from the institution was plainly that the stripping of designations was what the king, and especially other senior family members, sought.

Altered Approach

No more pretence that Andrew was acting willingly. And, significantly, the brief announcement showed evidently that the institution were siding with the complainant's account of incidents.

Furthermore, for the first time they finally showed consideration for the affected individuals: "These actions are judged required, notwithstanding the truth that he continues to deny the claims against him."

Finally it is entitlement, self-interest and laziness that will undermine the institution. In his stupidity, self-gratification and corruption, Andrew appears never to have learned that truth.