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

Royal 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 immediate relatives too.

Sarah Ferguson's New Status

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

For Ferguson, 66, the change will be the most apparent.

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

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

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

Recently, multiple organizations dropped her as ambassador after correspondence from 2011 showed that she referred to Epstein her "greatest ally" and seemed to apologise for her public criticism of him.

Professional Endeavors and Charity Work

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

And these, too, are more probable to be affected by the Epstein controversy than any alteration in status, notes one royal commentator.

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

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

The Princesses

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

For the couple's two daughters, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no official alteration.

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

Additionally there is no modification to the line of succession.

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

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

Coming Opportunities

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

"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an understanding of the fact that this controversy doesn't involve them, and it's unjust for it to affect them personally in the independent lives they are carving out for themselves," says one royal commentator.

"Their daughters are particularly unlucky victims, they've had to endure quietly and have been dignified in their silence," states another monarchy writer.

Final Impact

In the end, there appears to be minimal uncertainty that the person who will be most impacted by all of this will be the Duke himself.

For someone who always liked the royal privileges, the pomp and the ceremony, the loss of his titles is profoundly embarrassing.

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

Vanessa Mack
Vanessa Mack

A seasoned journalist with a passion for uncovering stories that matter in today's fast-paced world.