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

Present was the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a young woman, while an associate smiled suggestively in the background.

Lacking that snapshot, taken at a gathering in 2001, it would have been difficult to accept the allegations of a adolescent who stated she was transported across the ocean and forced to have perfunctory relations with a prince of the royal family?

A curious, indicative action by someone who had overtly asserted to have never been aware of her, said he could no have had relations with her, and yet handed over millions of his mother's funds to resolve a protracted lawsuit.

A Long Period of Scandal

Against this backdrop, discussions of the monarchy acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are wide of the mark. This affair has persisted for the majority of 15 years since that picture, and a further image of Andrew walking congenially with a convicted sex offender surfaced.

• Arrogance: To what extent did his brothers and sisters, perhaps even his parents, know that Andrew was so arrogant?
• Dubious Friendships: They must have understood, if his aides and the police were performing their duties, that he had some deeply disreputable associates given he openly invited them to palaces.
• Financial Extravagance: If the family did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his extravagance with taxpayer funds.

Trips were documented in public records: chopper travel from the estate to a sporting venue and back again in time for dining, chartered planes instead of scheduled services, all for the convenience of "Airmiles Andy".

A Life of Privilege

Then there was the entitlement which expected deference when he walked into a room or the profound consciousness about his designations used on his official documents in communication to his personal acquaintances.

He avoided accountability while his parent, who strangely pampered him, was still surviving. The Queen did at least revoke him of royal responsibilities and military positions in the aftermath of his disastrous and, it is now clear, deceptive television interview six years ago.

Current Situation

It was only in the last two weeks that events progressed rapidly, following the issuance of books giving more disturbing details of his conduct and that of his associates.

Additional revelations have again highlighted Andrew's belief that he could escape deceiving about his relationship with a disgraced individual.

Society (and the press) were far more perceptive of the monarchy. There was nobody of any significance to speak up for him, a consequence of all those years of arrogance.

Institutional Fears

The more astute royals understood that. The one imperative is to hand down the institution, if not as before at least complete and unstained.

For generations the last 190 years trying to undo the legacy of earlier rulers, proving they are valuable, accountable and attentive to their subjects.

Andrew was putting all that in danger in an era when respect and discretion is no longer sufficient.

The Fallout

Eventually, the notoriously uncertain sovereign was prodded further. There was no other option. The palace had relinquished authority of the account.

Now it is the stripping of titles and the ongoing and life-long social disgrace that will hurt Andrew most severely.

• Demotion: Demoted to just a private citizen
• Past Example: The initial royal to surrender his designations in recent history
• Naval Career: Notably hurtful given his role in the Falklands war

He remains a constitutional officer, on paper able to stand in for the monarch, and he is still in the succession to the monarchy, but none of these will actually occur.

Future Prospects

Will people he comes across still acknowledge him? Could they still make mistakes and call him Your Highness? Would they say Andrew,

Certainly, he is not retiring to an ordinary town, but to the sovereign's large property at a royal residence.

In that place, he will be supplied by the monarch with one of the royal residences and given some sort of private allowance.

This is not his prior accommodation, where he paid a minimal payment for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit remote, but even so it may not be sufficiently removed.

Unresolved Issues

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

• Parliamentary Interest: Will legislators seek further action
• Financial Investigation: Or scrutinize the waste of public money
• Judicial Potential: There may even be a police investigation into his conduct

Possibly for the time being the harm to the monarchy to the crown is limited. The message from the royal household was plainly that the stripping of designations was what the king, and particularly other senior royals, sought.

Changed Stance

No more illusion that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, significantly, the short statement showed clearly that the institution were supporting the accuser's account of events.

Even more, for the first time they finally showed concern for the affected individuals: "The measures are deemed necessary, despite the reality that he persists in refuting the allegations against him."

In the end it is arrogance, self-interest and laziness that will kill the monarchy. In his folly, personal excess and venality, Andrew seems never to have learned that reality.