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The saga started with a isolated photograph, possibly the most impactful ever captured of a individual from the royal household.

There stood the Baron Killyleagh, arm-in-arm a young woman, while a companion smiled suggestively in the background.

Without that snapshot, shot at a social event in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the allegations of a teenager who stated she was moved across the ocean and compelled to have perfunctory sexual encounters with a individual of the royal family?

A curious, telling gesture by someone who had publicly stated to have no known about her, asserted he could not have had sex with her, and yet paid millions of family resources to resolve a drawn-out legal case.

Years of Disgrace

Against this backdrop, talk of the monarchy acting firmly to distance themselves from Andrew are wide of the mark. This scandal has endured for the largest portion of 15 years since that image, and an additional photo of Andrew ambling congenially with a notorious individual surfaced.

• Self-importance: How long did his brothers and sisters, possibly even his mother and father, realize that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Problematic Connections: They must have realized, if his staff and the police were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory associates given he publicly welcomed them to palaces.
• Financial Extravagance: If the family did not know about his personal conduct, they certainly knew about his extravagance with state resources.

Travel were printed in royal annual reports: helicopter flights from the estate to a country club 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 presumption which required respect when he walked into a space or the profound awareness about his honorifics used on his official documents in communication to his associates.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who strangely spoiled him, was still living. The Queen did at least strip him of royal responsibilities and ceremonial ranks in the aftermath of his catastrophic and, we now know, deceptive television interview six years ago.

Recent Developments

Merely in the last 14 days that events sped up, following the release of books giving more grim particulars of his actions and that of his companions.

More information have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could get away with being untruthful about his interaction with a notorious figure.

Society (and the journalists) were far in advance of the royal family. There was nobody of any consequence to support him, a result of all those years of arrogance.

Monarchical Concerns

The more astute monarchical figures recognized that. The primary concern is to pass on the institution, if not as previously at least intact and unblemished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to overcome the legacy of past sovereigns, showing they are useful, responsible and responsive to their people.

His actions endangered all that in danger in an time when respect and privacy is no longer adequate.

Aftermath

Finally, the well-known indecisive monarch was pressured more. There was no alternative. The royal household had relinquished authority of the story.

Presently the loss of designations and the persistent and life-long personal shame that will afflict Andrew most severely.

• Reduction: Lowered to just Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
• Past Example: The primary royal to lose his honorifics in recent history
• Armed Forces: Particularly hurtful given his duty in the engagement

He remains a constitutional officer, in principle able to stand in for the sovereign, and he is still eighth in line to the throne, but none of these will truly come to pass.

What Lies Ahead

Do individuals he encounters still defer to him? Might they still make mistakes and call him Prince? Would they say Sir,

Naturally, he is not retiring to an ordinary town, but to the monarchy's vast property at Sandringham.

In that place, he will be furnished by the sovereign with one of the royal residences and given some type of private allowance.

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

Outstanding Concerns

The situation continues. There are still records in the hands of overseas authorities to be revealed.

• Governmental Scrutiny: Might parliament demand more
• Monetary Probe: Or examine the misuse of state resources
• Criminal Investigation: There may even be a law enforcement inquiry into his behavior

Maybe for the present the harm to the monarchy to the crown is limited. The statement from the royal household was clearly that the stripping of titles was what the sovereign, and notably other senior royals, wanted.

Changed Stance

No more illusion that Andrew was acting willingly. And, significantly, the brief statement showed clearly that the institution were siding with the complainant's version of events.

Even more, for the premiere occasion they eventually showed concern for the affected individuals: "The measures are judged required, regardless of the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him."

In the end it is presumption, selfishness and indolence that will kill the monarchy. In his folly, personal excess and corruption, Andrew gives the impression never to have understood that truth.