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

York Family Members

The Duke's removal from the last vestiges of royal life has not only reshaped his future - it's sending ripples through his family too.

Fergie's Title Change

His ex-wife has now surrendered her ducal status and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.

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

Throughout this period, she has maintained the honorary royal divorcee title Sarah, York Duchess. Now, 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 Twitter bio is @TheDuchessSarah."

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

Last month, multiple organizations dropped her as patron after an email from over a decade ago revealed that she referred to Epstein her "supreme friend" and seemed to apologise for her negative comments of him.

Business Ventures and Philanthropy

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

And these ventures, 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 royal circles. She's kept bouncing back.

"She's the supreme perseverer and expert at transforming," said one royal author.

The Princesses

Princess Eugenie during occasion
Princess Beatrice and Princess Beatrice 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 official alteration.

They continue to be known as 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, followed by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position respectively.

But in practice their standing are "low down" and will probably become much further down as years pass.

Coming Opportunities

The princesses are also currently non-working royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – The younger princess was recently announced as a mentor for the monarch's charity program – commentators also say they "can't see a world" in which they would advance into royal duties.

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an understanding of the reality that this scandal isn't about them, and it's not fair for it to affect them personally in the independent lives they are carving out for themselves," says one monarchy analyst.

"Their daughters are most unfortunate victims, they've had to endure quietly and have been composed in their reserve," states another royal author.

Ultimate Consequences

In the end, there seems to be minimal uncertainty that the person who will be most affected by these developments will be Prince Andrew himself.

For a man who always liked the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the ceremony, the loss of his titles is deeply humiliating.

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

Joseph Jones
Joseph Jones

Tech enthusiast and home automation expert with over a decade of experience in IoT and smart home systems.