How Prince Andrew's Removal of Titles Signifies for Sarah Ferguson, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie

Royal Family Members

The Duke's exit 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

The former spouse has now lost her duchess title and will now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.

For Ferguson, 66, the transition will be the most visible.

Throughout this period, she has kept the courtesy royal post-marital designation Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, she returns to her birth name of Ferguson.

"She has lost a bit of cachet over this," noted one monarchy expert. "She definitely does use the title – including her social media profile is @TheDuchessSarah."

But the loss of her title may impact her much less than the scandal she's facing separately about her own connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

Recently, several charities dropped her as ambassador after correspondence from 2011 revealed that she referred to Epstein her "supreme friend" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.

Business Ventures and Philanthropy

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

And these, too, are more likely to be impacted by the Epstein scandal than any alteration in status, says one monarchy analyst.

But Ferguson has been a great survivor in royal circles. She's kept bouncing back.

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

The Daughters

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

For Andrew and Sarah's offspring, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no formal change.

They continue to be referred to as royal princesses, which they have been granted since birth.

Additionally there is no modification to the line of succession.

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

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

Future Prospects

Beatrice and Eugenie are also presently non-official royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – Princess Eugenie was recently announced as a advisor for the monarch's charity network – commentators also say they "don't envision a world" in which they would advance into official responsibilities.

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an appreciation of the reality that this controversy doesn't involve them, and it's not fair for it to affect them directly 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 endure quietly and have been composed in their silence," states another royal author.

Ultimate Consequences

Ultimately, there seems to be minimal uncertainty that the individual who will be most impacted by all of this will be Prince Andrew himself.

For someone who always liked the royal privileges, the ceremony and the pageantry, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.

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

Brandy Hicks
Brandy Hicks

A passionate football journalist with over a decade of experience covering Italian soccer, specializing in Turin-based clubs and their impact on the sport.