What the Duke's Removal of Titles Means for Sarah Ferguson, Princess 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 now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.

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

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

"She has lost a bit of cachet over this," noted one royal commentator. "She certainly utilizes the title – even her Twitter bio is @TheDuchessSarah."

But the loss of her title may affect her much less than the scandal 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 Charity Work

Away from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has various business ventures.

And these ventures, are more probable to be affected by the Epstein scandal than any alteration in status, says one royal commentator.

But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in monarchical networks. She's kept bouncing back.

"She's the supreme perseverer and expert at transforming," commented one monarchy writer.

The Princesses

Princess Eugenie during occasion
Princess Beatrice 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 will still be known as royal 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, succeeded by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth place in that order.

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

Future Prospects

The princesses are also currently non-working royals, and while they do sometimes take on roles – The younger princess was recently announced as a mentor for the King's Foundation program – experts also suggest they "can't see a scenario" in which they would step up into royal duties.

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an understanding of the reality that this controversy doesn't involve them, and it's not fair for it to affect them directly in the independent lives 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 monarchy writer.

Final Impact

Ultimately, there seems to be minimal uncertainty that the individual who will be most affected by these developments will be the Duke himself.

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

So to not have those, on a personal level, will really matter.

Valerie Thompson
Valerie Thompson

Tech journalist and digital strategist with a passion for exploring emerging technologies and their impact on society.

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