How the Duke's Removal of Titles Signifies for Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Eugenie

Royal Family Figures

Prince Andrew's exit from the final remnants of royal life has not only altered his path - it's creating waves through his family too.

Sarah Ferguson's Title Change

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

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

Throughout this period, she has kept the courtesy royal divorcee title 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 does use the title – including her social media profile is @SarahTheDuchess."

But the loss of her title may affect her much less than the scandal she's facing separately about her own connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

Last month, multiple organizations removed her as ambassador after an email from 2011 revealed that she called Epstein her "greatest ally" and seemed to apologise for her negative comments of him.

Business Ventures and Charity Work

Separate from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has multiple commercial enterprises.

And these ventures, are more probable to be affected by the Epstein controversy than any alteration in status, notes one monarchy analyst.

But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in royal circles. She has continued recovering strongly.

"She's the ultimate survivor and master of reinvention," said one monarchy writer.

The Daughters

Princess Beatrice at event
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie seen at a Coronation Big Lunch in last year

For the couple's two daughters, Beatrice, thirty-seven, 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.

The prince stays eighth position to the throne, followed by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position respectively.

But in practice their positions are "distant" and will likely become even more remote as years pass.

Future Prospects

Beatrice and Eugenie are also presently non-official royals, and while they occasionally accept positions – The younger princess was recently named as a advisor for the King's Foundation program – commentators also say they "can't see a world" in which they would advance into official responsibilities.

"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an appreciation of the fact that this scandal doesn't involve them, and it's not fair for it to impact them personally in the independent lives they are carving out for themselves," says one monarchy analyst.

"The princesses are most unfortunate affected parties, they've had to endure quietly and have been dignified in their reserve," states another monarchy writer.

Final Impact

Ultimately, there seems to be minimal uncertainty that the individual who will be most impacted by all of this will be Prince Andrew himself.

For a man who always liked the trappings of royalty, the pomp and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is deeply humiliating.

So to not have these, on a individual basis, will really matter.

Adam Jackson
Adam Jackson

Cybersecurity specialist with over a decade of experience in data protection and IT consulting.