How the Duke's Titles Loss Signifies for Fergie, Beatrice and Eugenie

York 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 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, sixty-six, the change will be the most visible.

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

"She will have lost a certain prestige over this," noted one royal commentator. "She definitely does use the title – even her Twitter bio is @TheDuchessSarah."

But the relinquishment of her status may affect her much less than the controversy she's dealing with independently about her own links with the convicted financier.

Recently, several charities removed her as patron after correspondence from 2011 revealed that she called Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.

Business Ventures and Charity Work

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

And these ventures, are more probable to be affected by the Epstein scandal than any alteration in status, notes one monarchy analyst.

But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in monarchical networks. She's kept recovering strongly.

"She is the ultimate survivor and expert at transforming," said one monarchy writer.

The Daughters

Princess Beatrice during occasion
Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice pictured at a Coronation Big Lunch in 2023

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

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

Additionally there is no modification to the royal succession order.

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

But in practice their standing are "distant" and will probably become even more remote as years pass.

Coming Opportunities

Beatrice and Eugenie are also presently non-official royals, and while they do sometimes take on roles – The younger princess was recently announced as a mentor for the King's Foundation program – experts also suggest they "can't see a world" in which they would step up into royal duties.

"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an appreciation of the reality that this scandal isn't about them, and it's unjust for it to impact them personally in the separate paths they are building for themselves," explains one monarchy analyst.

"Their daughters are most unfortunate victims, they've had to suffer in silence and have been dignified in their reserve," adds another royal author.

Final Impact

Ultimately, there appears to be little doubt that the person who will be most affected by these developments will be Prince Andrew himself.

For a man who always liked the royal privileges, the pomp and the pageantry, the relinquishment of his honors is deeply humiliating.

Therefore lacking those, on a individual basis, will significantly count.

Nicholas Robbins
Nicholas Robbins

A passionate writer and storyteller with a background in literature, sharing personal insights and creative advice.