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

York Family Members

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

Fergie's New Status

The former spouse has now surrendered her ducal status and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.

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

Throughout this period, she has maintained the honorary royal post-marital designation Sarah, Duchess of York. Currently, she reverts to her maiden name of Ferguson.

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

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

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

Business Ventures and Charity Work

Separate from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has multiple commercial enterprises.

And these ventures, are more probable to be impacted by the Epstein scandal than any change in title, says one royal commentator.

But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in monarchical networks. She's kept recovering strongly.

"She is the ultimate survivor and master of reinvention," commented one monarchy writer.

The Daughters

Princess Beatrice during occasion
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie seen at a Coronation Big Lunch in 2023

For the couple's offspring, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no official alteration.

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

Additionally there is no change to the royal succession order.

The prince stays eighth in line to the throne, followed by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth place respectively.

But in reality their positions are "low down" and will probably become much further down as time goes on.

Coming Opportunities

The princesses are also presently non-official royals, and while they do sometimes take on roles – The younger princess was recently named 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.

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an understanding of the fact that this controversy doesn't involve them, and it's unjust for it to affect them directly in the separate paths they are building for themselves," explains one royal commentator.

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

Ultimate Consequences

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

For someone who consistently enjoyed the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.

Therefore lacking these, on a personal level, will significantly count.

Jeffrey Greer
Jeffrey Greer

A seasoned journalist with a passion for investigative reporting and uncovering the facts behind the headlines.