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

York Family Figures

Prince Andrew's removal from the last vestiges of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's creating waves through his immediate relatives 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 change will be the most visible.

Throughout this period, 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," said one royal commentator. "She certainly does use the title – including her Twitter bio is @SarahTheDuchess."

But the loss of her title may affect her much less than the controversy she's facing separately about her own connections to the convicted financier.

Last month, multiple organizations dropped her as patron after an email from 2011 showed that she called Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her public criticism of him.

Business Ventures and Philanthropy

Away from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has various business ventures.

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

But Ferguson has been a great survivor in monarchical networks. She's kept recovering strongly.

"She is the ultimate survivor and expert at transforming," commented one royal author.

The Princesses

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

For the couple's offspring, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, there's no formal change.

They continue to be known as royal princesses, which they have been granted since their birth.

There is also no change to the royal succession order.

The prince stays eighth in line to the crown, succeeded 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 even more remote as time goes on.

Coming Opportunities

The princesses are also currently non-working royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – Princess Eugenie was recently announced as a advisor for the King's Foundation program – experts also say they "can't see a world" in which they would advance into official responsibilities.

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an appreciation of the reality that this scandal isn't about them, and it's not fair for it to affect them personally in the separate paths they are building for themselves," explains one royal commentator.

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

Ultimate Consequences

Ultimately, there seems to be little doubt that the individual who will be most impacted by all of this will be the Duke himself.

For someone who always liked the royal privileges, the pomp and the pageantry, the loss of his titles is deeply humiliating.

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

Jeremiah Williams
Jeremiah Williams

A seasoned business consultant with over 15 years of experience in strategic planning and digital transformation.