What Prince Andrew's Removal of Titles Means for Sarah Ferguson, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie

York Family Members

The Duke's exit from the final remnants of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's creating waves through his immediate relatives too.

Fergie's New Status

His ex-wife has now lost her duchess title and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.

For Sarah, sixty-six, the transition will be the most visible.

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

"She has lost a bit of cachet over this," said one monarchy expert. "She certainly utilizes the title – even her Twitter bio is @SarahTheDuchess."

But the relinquishment of her status may impact her much less than the scandal she's facing separately about her own connections to the convicted financier.

Recently, multiple organizations dropped her as patron after an email from 2011 showed that she called Epstein her "supreme friend" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.

Professional Endeavors and Charity Work

Away from her charitable activities, 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 royal commentator.

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

"She is the ultimate survivor and master of reinvention," commented one royal author.

The Princesses

Princess Eugenie during occasion
Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice seen at a royal celebration in last year

For the couple's offspring, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, 35, there's no official alteration.

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

There is also no change to the line of succession.

Andrew remains eighth in line to the crown, followed by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth place respectively.

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

Coming Opportunities

The princesses are also presently non-official royals, and while they do sometimes accept positions – Princess Eugenie was recently named as a advisor for the King's Foundation program – commentators also suggest they "can't see a scenario" in which they would advance into official responsibilities.

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an appreciation of the fact that this scandal isn't about them, and it's unjust for it to impact them directly in the independent lives they are carving out for themselves," explains one monarchy analyst.

"Their daughters are particularly unlucky affected parties, they've had to endure quietly and have been composed in their reserve," adds another royal author.

Final Impact

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

For someone who always liked the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the pageantry, the loss of his titles is deeply humiliating.

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

Alisha Robbins
Alisha Robbins

An avid skier and travel writer with over a decade of experience exploring mountain resorts across Europe.