‘Chucked under royal bus’: Prince Andrew’s demotion shows institution’s ruthlessness

Duke of York's loss of royal patronages and military titles reveals inner workings of family

When the announcement of Prince Andrew's sudden royal demotion came at a few minutes past 5pm on Thursday, the level of its brutality didn't take long to sink in for people who know how the royal family works.

I don't know what the richter scale goes up to but this is a big earthquake," one source told the Guardian. This feels to me like a straightforward ejection or excommunication. This is the most serious step they could have taken."