How Prince Andrew's Removal of Titles Signifies for Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Eugenie
The Duke's exit from the final remnants of royal life has not only altered his path - it's creating waves through his immediate relatives too.
Sarah Ferguson's Title Change
His ex-wife has now lost her duchess title and will now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.
For Ferguson, 66, the change will be the most visible.
For all these years, she has kept the courtesy royal divorcee title Sarah, Duchess of York. Now, she reverts to her maiden name of Ferguson.
"She will have lost a bit of cachet over this," noted one royal commentator. "She definitely does use the title – including her Twitter bio is @SarahTheDuchess."
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.
Last month, multiple organizations removed her as patron after correspondence from 2011 revealed that she referred to Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.
Business Ventures and Charity Work
Away from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has various business ventures.
And these ventures, are more likely to be impacted by the Epstein controversy 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 master of reinvention," said one monarchy writer.
The Daughters
For Andrew and Sarah's offspring, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no formal change.
They will still be referred to as princesses, which they have been entitled to since birth.
There is also no modification to the line of succession.
The prince stays eighth in line to the crown, followed by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth place respectively.
But in reality their standing are "low down" and will probably become even more remote as years pass.
Coming Opportunities
Beatrice and Eugenie are also presently non-official royals, and while they occasionally accept positions – The younger princess was recently named as a mentor for the monarch's charity network – commentators also suggest they "don't envision a world" in which they would advance into official responsibilities.
"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an appreciation of the fact that this controversy doesn't involve them, and it's unjust for it to impact them personally in the independent lives they are carving out for themselves," says one royal commentator.
"The princesses are particularly unlucky victims, they've had to suffer in silence and have been dignified in their silence," states another monarchy writer.
Ultimate Consequences
In the end, there appears to be little doubt that the person who will be most impacted by these developments will be Prince Andrew himself.
For someone who consistently enjoyed the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is deeply humiliating.
So to not have these, on a individual basis, will significantly count.