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

York Family Members

Prince Andrew's removal from the last vestiges of monarchical duties has not only altered his path - it's creating waves through his family too.

Sarah Ferguson's New Status

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

For Sarah, 66, the change will be the most apparent.

Throughout this period, she has maintained the honorary royal divorcee title Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, she returns to her birth name of Ferguson.

"She will have lost a bit of cachet over this," noted one royal commentator. "She definitely does use the title – including her social media profile is @TheDuchessSarah."

But the loss of her title may impact her much less than the scandal she's dealing with independently about her own connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

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

Professional Endeavors and Philanthropy

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

And these ventures, are more likely to be impacted by the Epstein controversy than any alteration in status, says one monarchy analyst.

But Ferguson has been a great survivor in royal circles. She's kept bouncing back.

"She is the supreme perseverer and master of reinvention," said one royal author.

The Princesses

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

For Andrew and Sarah's two daughters, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no official alteration.

They will still be known as royal princesses, which they have been granted since birth.

Additionally there is no modification to the royal succession order.

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

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

Coming Opportunities

Beatrice and Eugenie are also presently non-official royals, and while they do sometimes take on roles – The younger princess 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 official responsibilities.

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

"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.

Ultimate Consequences

In the end, there appears to be little doubt that the person who will be most impacted by these developments will be Prince Andrew himself.

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

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

Lindsey Cohen
Lindsey Cohen

Tech writer and digital strategist passionate about emerging technologies and their impact on society.