How the Duke's Titles Loss Signifies for Fergie, Beatrice and Eugenie

Royal Family Figures

Prince Andrew's removal from the final remnants of royal life has not only reshaped his future - it's creating waves through his immediate relatives too.

Sarah Ferguson's Title Change

His ex-wife has now surrendered her ducal status and will now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.

For Ferguson, sixty-six, the change will be the most apparent.

For all these years, she has kept the courtesy royal post-marital designation Sarah, York Duchess. Now, she reverts to her birth name of Ferguson.

"She has lost a certain prestige over this," said one monarchy expert. "She certainly utilizes the title – even her Twitter bio is @TheDuchessSarah."

But the relinquishment of her status may affect her much less than the scandal she's facing separately about her own links with Jeffrey Epstein.

Last month, multiple organizations dropped her as patron after correspondence from over a decade ago revealed that she referred to Epstein her "supreme friend" and seemed to apologise for her negative comments of him.

Professional Endeavors and Philanthropy

Separate from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has various business ventures.

And these, too, are more probable to be affected by the Epstein scandal than any alteration in status, notes one royal commentator.

But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in monarchical networks. She has continued bouncing back.

"She's the supreme perseverer and master of reinvention," commented one royal author.

The Daughters

Princess Beatrice at event
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie seen at a royal celebration in last year

For the couple's two daughters, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no formal change.

They will still be referred to as royal princesses, which they have been entitled to since birth.

There is also no modification to the royal succession order.

Andrew remains eighth position to the throne, succeeded by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position respectively.

But in reality their standing are "distant" and will likely become much further down as years pass.

Future Prospects

The princesses are also currently non-working royals, and while they do sometimes accept positions – Princess Eugenie was recently announced as a advisor for the monarch's charity program – experts also say they "don't envision a scenario" in which they would step up into royal duties.

"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an appreciation of the reality that this scandal doesn't involve them, and it's unjust for it to affect them personally in the separate paths they are carving out for themselves," says one royal commentator.

"Their daughters are most unfortunate affected parties, they've had to suffer in silence and have been composed in their silence," states another monarchy writer.

Final Impact

Ultimately, there seems to be minimal uncertainty that the person who will be most affected by these developments will be the Duke himself.

For a man who always liked the trappings of royalty, the pomp and the pageantry, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.

Therefore lacking those, on a personal level, will really matter.

Victoria Curtis
Victoria Curtis

A seasoned business strategist with over a decade of experience in digital marketing and entrepreneurship.