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

York Family Members

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

Fergie's New Status

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

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

For all these years, she has kept the courtesy royal divorcee title Sarah, Duchess of York. Currently, she returns to her birth name of Ferguson.

"She will have lost a bit of cachet over this," said one royal commentator. "She certainly does use the title – including her Twitter bio is @TheDuchessSarah."

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

Last month, several charities removed her as patron after an email from over a decade ago revealed that she called Epstein her "supreme friend" and seemed to apologise 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 probable to be impacted by the Epstein controversy than any change in title, says one monarchy analyst.

But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in monarchical networks. She has continued recovering strongly.

"She is the ultimate survivor and expert at transforming," said one monarchy writer.

The Princesses

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

For Andrew and Sarah's offspring, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, there's no formal change.

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

There is also no change to the line of succession.

Andrew remains eighth position to the crown, succeeded by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth place in that order.

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

Future Prospects

Beatrice and Eugenie are also currently non-working royals, and while they do sometimes take on roles – Princess Eugenie was recently announced as a advisor for the monarch's charity network – commentators also suggest they "can't see a world" in which they would advance into royal duties.

"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an understanding of the fact that this scandal isn't about them, and it's unjust for it to affect them personally in the separate paths they are carving out for themselves," explains one monarchy analyst.

"The princesses are particularly unlucky affected parties, they've had to suffer in silence and have been composed in their reserve," states another monarchy writer.

Final Impact

In the end, there appears to be minimal uncertainty that the individual who will be most impacted by these developments will be the Duke himself.

For a man who consistently enjoyed the royal privileges, the pomp and the pageantry, the relinquishment of his honors is deeply humiliating.

So to not have these, on a personal level, will significantly count.

Heather Paul
Heather Paul

A seasoned strategist and leadership coach with over a decade of experience in helping individuals and teams achieve their full potential.