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The saga started with a isolated photograph, arguably the most consequential ever snapped of a member of the monarchy.

Present was the Baron Killyleagh, arm-in-arm a young woman, while another individual grinned conspiratorially in the backdrop.

Lacking that image, taken at a social event in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the allegations of a young woman who said she was trafficked across the ocean and obliged to have brief sexual encounters with a member of the royal family?

An odd, revealing gesture by someone who had overtly claimed to have no heard of her, asserted he could no have had relations with her, and yet handed over a substantial sum of his mother's money to resolve a drawn-out legal case.

A Long Period of Disgrace

Considering this, discussions of the royals acting firmly to distance themselves from Andrew are wide of the mark. This affair has endured for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and another photo of Andrew walking congenially with a convicted sex offender surfaced.

• Self-importance: To what extent did his family members, maybe even his parents, know that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have realized, if his staff and the police were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory associates given he unabashedly welcomed them to palaces.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the family did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with state resources.

Trips were listed in royal annual reports: chopper transfers from the palace to a country club and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "the travel enthusiast".

World of Deference

Furthermore the arrogance which demanded respect when he walked into a room or the supreme consciousness about his honorifics used on his correspondence in messages to his friends.

He could get away with it while his parent, who unaccountably pampered him, was still alive. The monarch did at least revoke him of official roles and ceremonial ranks in the consequence of his disastrous and, as revealed, mendacious media appearance six years ago.

Current Situation

Merely in the last fortnight that events progressed rapidly, following the publication of books giving more disturbing details of his actions and that of his connections.

Further disclosures have again exposed Andrew's belief that he could avoid lying about his relationship with a disgraced individual.

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

Institutional Fears

The more intelligent family members realized that. The primary concern is to transfer the crown, if not as heretofore at least whole and untarnished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to overcome the legacy of earlier rulers, proving they are useful, dutiful and reactive to their people.

He was placing all that in jeopardy in an era when deference and secrecy is no longer adequate.

Consequences

Ultimately, the famously uncertain sovereign was prodded further. There was no other option. The royal household had surrendered command of the story.

Now it is the removal of honorifics and the persistent and lifetime personal shame that will afflict Andrew most severely.

• Demotion: Lowered to just a commoner
• Prior Instance: The first royal to surrender his honorifics in recent history
• Military Service: Particularly hurtful given his duty in the engagement

He remains a counsellor of state, in principle able to substitute for the king, and he is still in the succession to the crown, but not any of these will actually happen.

Future Prospects

Will people he encounters still defer to him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Prince? Will they even say Andrew,

Of course, he is not withdrawing to an ordinary town, but to the monarchy's large estate at Sandringham.

There, he will be furnished by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some type of financial support.

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

Pending Matters

The situation continues. There are still documents in the hands of overseas authorities to be disclosed.

• Parliamentary Interest: Will legislators demand more
• Fiscal Review: Or scrutinize the waste of taxpayer funds
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a police investigation into his actions

Maybe for the present the reputational impact to the monarchy is limited. The narrative from the royal household was clearly that the removal of honorifics was what the sovereign, and notably other senior monarchical figures, sought.

A Shift in Position

No more pretence that Andrew was making the choice himself. And, remarkably, the short statement showed evidently that the royals were supporting the complainant's version of incidents.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they eventually showed regard for the survivors: "The measures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the truth that he maintains his innocence of the accusations against him."

Ultimately it is arrogance, self-seeking and indolence that will kill the monarchy. In his folly, personal excess and greed, Andrew appears never to have understood that lesson.