Removal of Andrew's titles is seismic - but there is another major shift in palace's statement

The public and politicians had spoken, and the King, it seems, had no choice.

As head of the institution, family bonds took second place; the survival of the monarchy and its reputation in the end was paramount. But while the removal of the titles, styles and honours, from the man now just known as Andrew, is seismic, there are other significant shifts in this bombshell pronouncement from the palace.

Follow latest news and reaction: Andrew no longer Duke of York The decision to publicly state that "Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse" is huge. In all the years that the allegations have rumbled on against Andrew - accusations he denies - I have never publicly heard the royal family come out in support of the victims around this story.

Andrew himself, during his Newsnight interview, never offered any kind of sympathy or apology to Jeffrey Epstein's wider victims. With both Queen Camilla and the Duchess of Edinburgh working to support victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence, the family's silence has always felt difficult to fully understand.

Read more:Why King could no longer ignore public opinionEverything we know as Andrew loses titles I have no doubt that pressure from other members of the family will have meant now was the right time for the King to make their position clear. We also understand this latest action was taken to acknowledge serious lapses in judgement from Andrew.

Again, the palace has never gone this far. In the past, they have simply tried to distance themselves from the constant drip of revelations.

While this is a King mindful of the future of the monarchy, he has also worked hard to build a reputation as an empathic and socially engaged man. The noise around Andrew was deafening, he has listened, and as a result, his actions are monumental..