What Prince Andrew's Titles Loss Signifies for Fergie, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie

Royal Family Members

The Duke's exit from the final remnants of royal life has not only altered his path - it's sending ripples 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 Ferguson, 66, the transition will be the most visible.

Throughout this period, she has kept the courtesy royal divorcee title Sarah, Duchess of York. Now, she reverts to her birth name of Ferguson.

"She has lost a bit of cachet over this," noted one monarchy expert. "She definitely does use the title – including her social media profile is @SarahTheDuchess."

But the relinquishment of her status may impact her much less than the controversy she's facing separately about her own links with Jeffrey Epstein.

Last month, several charities dropped her as ambassador after an email from 2011 revealed that she called Epstein her "supreme friend" and appeared to express regret for her public criticism of him.

Business Ventures and Philanthropy

Away from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has various business ventures.

And these ventures, are more likely to be affected by the Epstein controversy than any alteration in status, notes one royal commentator.

But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in royal circles. She has continued bouncing back.

"She is the supreme perseverer and master of reinvention," commented one monarchy writer.

The Princesses

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

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

They will still 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, followed by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position respectively.

But in practice their standing are "low down" and will probably become much further down as years pass.

Coming Opportunities

Beatrice and Eugenie are also presently non-working royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – Princess Eugenie was recently named as a mentor for the monarch's charity program – experts also say they "can't see a world" in which they would step up into royal duties.

"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an understanding of the reality that this scandal doesn't involve 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.

"The princesses are most unfortunate victims, they've had to endure quietly and have been dignified in their silence," states another royal author.

Final Impact

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

For a man 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.

Rebecca Peters
Rebecca Peters

Tech enthusiast and writer with a passion for exploring how emerging technologies shape our future.