There are also unanswered questions about Prince Andrew’s finances. He no longer has financial support from his brother King Charles, but still has to fund the upkeep of his home at Royal Lodge in Windsor.
His connections with business deals with China, including a contact accused of being a Chinese spy, were never fully explained, even though court documents revealed details such as Prince Andrew sending birthday cards each year to the Chinese President Xi Jinping and privately meeting the Chinese ambassador.
These questions returned last week when pictures emerged of Prince Andrew with a senior Chinese politician who had been a central figure in the collapsed Chinese spy trial.
Has there been an institutional lack of curiosity, or a misplaced deference, in finding out about Andrew’s activities?
The era under discussion took place under the previous reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Is the current team at the Palace now having to face up to changing expectations over transparency?