How Prince Andrew's Titles Loss Signifies for Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Eugenie
Prince Andrew's exit from the final remnants of royal life has not only reshaped his future - it's sending ripples through his family too.
Fergie's Title Change
The former spouse has now surrendered her ducal status and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.
For Ferguson, sixty-six, the change will be the most apparent.
For all these years, she has maintained the honorary royal post-marital designation Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, she returns to her maiden name of Ferguson.
"She has lost a bit of cachet over this," noted one royal commentator. "She certainly does use the title – even her Twitter bio is @SarahTheDuchess."
But the relinquishment of her status may impact her much less than the controversy she's dealing with independently 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 "supreme friend" and seemed to apologise for her public criticism of him.
Professional Endeavors and Philanthropy
Away from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has various business ventures.
And these, too, are more probable to be impacted by the Epstein scandal than any alteration in status, notes one monarchy analyst.
But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in monarchical networks. She has continued recovering strongly.
"She is the ultimate survivor and master of reinvention," said one monarchy writer.
The Daughters
For Andrew and Sarah's two daughters, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, there's no official alteration.
They will still be known as princesses, which they have been granted since their birth.
There is also no modification to the royal succession order.
Andrew remains eighth position to the crown, followed by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth place in that order.
But in practice their positions are "distant" and will probably become much further down as years pass.
Coming Opportunities
Beatrice and Eugenie are also presently non-official royals, and while they occasionally accept positions – The younger princess was recently announced as a advisor for the King's Foundation network – experts also say they "can't see a world" in which they would step up into official responsibilities.
"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an appreciation of the reality that this controversy isn't about them, and it's unjust for it to affect them directly in the separate paths they are building for themselves," says one royal commentator.
"The princesses are most unfortunate affected parties, they've had to endure quietly and have been dignified in their reserve," states another monarchy writer.
Ultimate Consequences
Ultimately, there seems to be little doubt that the person who will be most affected by these developments will be the Duke himself.
For someone who consistently enjoyed the royal privileges, the ceremony and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.
Therefore lacking those, on a personal level, will significantly count.