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

York Family Figures

The Duke's exit from the last vestiges of royal life has not only reshaped his future - it's creating waves through his family too.

Sarah Ferguson's New Status

His ex-wife has now lost her duchess title and will now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.

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

For all these years, she has kept the courtesy royal divorcee title Sarah, Duchess of York. Currently, she returns to her birth name of Ferguson.

"She will have lost a certain prestige over this," said one royal commentator. "She certainly utilizes the title – including her Twitter bio is @SarahTheDuchess."

But the relinquishment of her status may impact her much less than the scandal she's facing separately about her own links with the convicted financier.

Last month, multiple organizations removed her as patron after an email from over a decade ago revealed that she referred to Epstein her "greatest ally" and seemed to apologise for her public criticism of him.

Business Ventures and Charity Work

Separate from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has multiple commercial enterprises.

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

But Ferguson has been a great survivor in monarchical networks. She has continued recovering strongly.

"She's the ultimate survivor and expert at transforming," commented one monarchy writer.

The Daughters

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

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

They continue to be referred to as princesses, which they have been entitled to since birth.

Additionally there is no change to the line of succession.

The prince stays eighth in line to the crown, followed by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position in that order.

But in reality their positions are "distant" and will probably become even more remote as time goes on.

Future Prospects

Beatrice and Eugenie are also currently non-official royals, and while they do sometimes accept positions – The younger princess was recently named as a mentor for the King's Foundation network – experts also suggest they "don't envision a scenario" in which they would advance into official responsibilities.

"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an understanding of the fact that this controversy isn't about them, and it's unjust for it to impact them directly in the separate paths they are carving out for themselves," says one monarchy analyst.

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

Final Impact

Ultimately, there seems to be little doubt that the person who will be most affected by these developments 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.

Therefore lacking these, on a individual basis, will really matter.

Betty Hansen
Betty Hansen

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