How the Duke's Removal of Titles Signifies for Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Eugenie

York Family Members

The Duke's exit from the last vestiges of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's sending ripples through his family too.

Sarah Ferguson's Title Change

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

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

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 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 scandal she's dealing with independently about her own links with Jeffrey Epstein.

Last month, several charities dropped her as patron after correspondence from over a decade ago showed that she referred to Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.

Professional Endeavors and Charity Work

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

And these ventures, are more likely to be impacted by the Epstein controversy than any change in title, says one monarchy analyst.

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

"She is the ultimate survivor and master of reinvention," said one monarchy writer.

The Princesses

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

For Andrew and Sarah's two daughters, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, there's no official alteration.

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

There is also no modification to the line of succession.

The prince stays eighth in line to the throne, succeeded by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position respectively.

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

Future Prospects

The princesses are also presently non-official royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – The younger princess was recently named as a advisor for the monarch's charity program – commentators also suggest they "don't envision a world" in which they would advance into royal duties.

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an appreciation of the reality that this controversy doesn't involve them, and it's not fair for it to impact them directly in the independent lives they are carving out for themselves," says one monarchy analyst.

"Their daughters are most unfortunate affected parties, they've had to suffer in silence and have been composed in their reserve," states another royal author.

Ultimate Consequences

Ultimately, there seems to be little doubt that the person who will be most impacted by all of this will be Prince Andrew himself.

For a man who consistently enjoyed the royal privileges, the pomp and the ceremony, the loss of his titles is deeply humiliating.

So to not have these, on a personal level, will significantly count.

William Johnson
William Johnson

A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about exploring the intersection of design and emerging technologies.