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It all began with a isolated photograph, perhaps the most impactful ever snapped of a member of the monarchy.

In the frame appeared the Duke of York, with his arm around a female youth, while an associate beamed suggestively in the rear.

Lacking that photograph, shot at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a adolescent who said she was transported across the sea and forced to have brief relations with a member of the royal family?

A strange, revealing action by someone who had openly asserted to have never known about her, claimed he could not have had relations with her, and yet paid a substantial sum of family money to avert a long-delayed lawsuit.

Over a Decade of Controversy

In this context, conversations of the royal family acting swiftly to sever ties with Andrew are inaccurate. This controversy has persisted for the better part of 15 years since that picture, and a further image of Andrew ambling pleasantly with a notorious individual emerged.

• Arrogance: To what extent did his siblings, perhaps even his relatives, realize that Andrew was so presumptuous?
• Questionable Associations: They must have realized, if his employees and the authorities were performing their duties, that he had some deeply disreputable friends given he unabashedly hosted them to palaces.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the monarchy did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with public money.

Trips were printed in official documents: private aircraft travel from the royal residence to a sporting venue and back again in time for midday meal, exclusive air travel instead of commercial flights, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

World of Deference

Furthermore the arrogance which expected respect when he walked into a area or the extreme obsession about his designations used on his correspondence in communication to his associates.

He could get away with it while his matriarch, who unaccountably indulged him, was still surviving. The Queen did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the consequence of his disastrous and, as revealed, mendacious public statement six years ago.

Latest Events

It was only in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the publication of books giving more disturbing particulars of his actions and that of his companions.

More information have again highlighted Andrew's thinking that he could get away with deceiving about his contact with a disgraced individual.

The public (and the press) were far more perceptive of the royal family. There was no one of any importance to speak up for him, a outcome of all those years of hubris.

Institutional Fears

The more intelligent royals understood that. The primary concern is to hand down the crown, if not as previously at least complete and untarnished.

They have spent the last 190 years trying to reverse the legacy of previous monarchs, proving they are beneficial, dutiful and reactive to their people.

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

Consequences

Finally, the notoriously indecisive monarch was prodded further. There was no other option. The institution had lost control of the story.

Now it is the loss of honorifics and the continued and permanent personal shame that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Demotion: Demoted to just a commoner
• Prior Instance: The initial royal to lose his designations in modern times
• Naval Career: Notably hurtful given his service in the engagement

He remains a counsellor of state, in principle able to substitute for the sovereign, and he is still in the lineage to the throne, but neither of these will truly come to pass.

Coming Developments

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

Certainly, he is not retiring to an ordinary town, but to the royal family's extensive estate at a royal residence.

At that location, he will be supplied by the king with one of the grace and favour houses and given some sort of personal stipend.

It is not his former home, where he paid a nominal payment for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit distant, but even so it may not be far enough.

Pending Matters

This is not over. There are still documents in the possession of US Congress to be disclosed.

• Political Pressure: Could parliament seek further action
• Fiscal Review: Or investigate the misuse of public money
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a criminal probe into his conduct

Possibly for the time being the institutional damage to the crown is restricted. The narrative from the royal household was plainly that the revocation of designations was what the sovereign, and notably other senior royals, wanted.

Changed Stance

An end to deception that Andrew was acting willingly. And, significantly, the brief announcement showed clearly that the institution were supporting the complainant's version of occurrences.

Even more, for the initial instance they ultimately showed regard for the affected individuals: "These actions are judged required, notwithstanding the reality that he continues to deny the allegations against him."

Finally it is arrogance, self-seeking and indolence that will destroy the monarchy. In his folly, self-indulgence and greed, Andrew appears never to have understood that lesson.