What the Duke's Removal of Titles Means for Sarah Ferguson, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie

York 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 immediate relatives too.

Sarah Ferguson's New Status

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

For Sarah, 66, the change will be the most visible.

Throughout this period, she has maintained the honorary royal post-marital designation Sarah, York Duchess. Now, she returns to her birth name of Ferguson.

"She has lost a certain prestige over this," noted one monarchy expert. "She definitely utilizes the title – even her social media profile is @SarahTheDuchess."

But the loss of her title may impact her much less than the controversy she's dealing with independently about her own links with Jeffrey Epstein.

Recently, multiple organizations removed her as patron after an email from 2011 revealed that she referred to Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.

Business Ventures and Charity Work

Away from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has multiple commercial enterprises.

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

But Ferguson has been a great survivor in royal circles. She's kept recovering strongly.

"She's the supreme perseverer and master of reinvention," said one royal author.

The Daughters

Princess Beatrice at event
Princess Eugenie and Princess Eugenie seen at a Coronation Big Lunch in last year

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

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

There is also no change to the line of succession.

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

But in practice their standing are "distant" and will likely become even more remote as time goes on.

Future Prospects

Beatrice and Eugenie are also presently non-official royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – Princess Eugenie was recently named as a mentor for the King's Foundation network – commentators also say 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 doesn't involve them, and it's not fair for it to impact them personally in the separate paths they are building for themselves," explains one monarchy analyst.

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

Ultimate Consequences

In the end, there seems to be little doubt that the person who will be most impacted by all of this will be Prince Andrew himself.

For someone who consistently enjoyed the royal privileges, the ceremony and the ceremony, the loss of his titles is profoundly embarrassing.

Therefore lacking those, on a personal level, will really matter.

Andrew Dudley
Andrew Dudley

A passionate travel writer and food enthusiast, sharing personal experiences and expert advice on Italian adventures.