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

York Family Figures

The Duke's removal from the last vestiges of monarchical duties has not only altered his path - it's creating waves through his family too.

Fergie's Title Change

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

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

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

"She has lost a bit of cachet over this," said one monarchy expert. "She definitely 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 facing separately about her own connections to the convicted financier.

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

Business Ventures and Charity Work

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

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

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

"She's the ultimate survivor and expert at transforming," commented one royal author.

The Daughters

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

For Andrew and Sarah's two daughters, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no formal change.

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

Additionally there is no change to the royal succession order.

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

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

Future Prospects

The princesses are also presently non-working royals, and while they occasionally accept positions – The younger princess was recently announced as a advisor for the monarch's charity program – commentators also say they "can't see a scenario" in which they would step up 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 not fair for it to affect them personally in the independent lives they are building for themselves," says one monarchy analyst.

"Their daughters are particularly unlucky affected parties, they've had to endure quietly and have been composed in their silence," adds another monarchy writer.

Ultimate Consequences

In the end, there seems to be little doubt that the individual who will be most affected by all of this will be the Duke himself.

For a man who consistently enjoyed the royal privileges, the pomp and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.

So to not have these, on a individual basis, will really matter.

Jeremy Harvey
Jeremy Harvey

Urban planner and writer passionate about creating sustainable and livable cities for future generations.