What the Duke's Removal of Titles Signifies for Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
The Duke's exit from the final remnants of royal life has not only reshaped his future - it's creating waves through his family too.
Sarah Ferguson's New Status
The former spouse has now surrendered her ducal status and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.
For Ferguson, sixty-six, the change will be the most apparent.
For all these years, she has maintained the honorary royal divorcee title Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, she reverts to her birth name of Ferguson.
"She will have lost a bit of cachet over this," said one monarchy expert. "She definitely utilizes the title – including her social media profile is @TheDuchessSarah."
But the relinquishment of her status may affect her much less than the scandal she's dealing with independently about her own links with the convicted financier.
Recently, several charities removed her as ambassador after correspondence from 2011 showed that she called Epstein her "supreme friend" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.
Professional Endeavors 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, 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," commented one royal author.
The Daughters
For the couple's two daughters, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no formal change.
They will still be referred to as royal princesses, which they have been granted since birth.
There is also no modification to the line of succession.
The prince stays eighth in line to the crown, followed by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position respectively.
But in practice their standing are "low down" and will likely become even more remote as time goes on.
Coming Opportunities
The princesses are also currently non-working royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – Princess Eugenie was recently announced as a mentor for the King's Foundation program – experts also say they "don't envision a scenario" in which they would step up into royal duties.
"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an understanding 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 building for themselves," explains one royal commentator.
"Their daughters are most unfortunate affected parties, they've had to suffer in silence and have been dignified in their silence," adds another monarchy writer.
Final Impact
Ultimately, there appears to be minimal uncertainty that the person who will be most affected by these developments will be Prince Andrew himself.
For someone who always liked the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.
Therefore lacking these, on a personal level, will significantly count.