What the Duke's Removal of Titles Signifies for Sarah Ferguson, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
The Duke's exit from the final remnants of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's creating waves through his immediate relatives too.
Sarah Ferguson's Title Change
The former spouse has now surrendered her ducal status and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.
For Ferguson, 66, the change will be the most apparent.
For all these years, she has maintained the honorary royal divorcee title Sarah, Duchess of York. Currently, she returns to her maiden name of Ferguson.
"She has lost a bit of cachet over this," noted one monarchy expert. "She certainly does use the title – even her social media profile is @SarahTheDuchess."
But the loss of her title may affect her much less than the scandal she's dealing with independently about her own connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
Last month, multiple organizations dropped her as ambassador after correspondence from over a decade ago revealed that she called Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.
Business Ventures and Philanthropy
Separate from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has multiple commercial enterprises.
And these, too, are more likely to be affected by the Epstein controversy than any alteration in status, notes one monarchy analyst.
But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in royal circles. She has continued bouncing back.
"She's the supreme perseverer and master of reinvention," commented one royal author.
The Princesses
For Andrew and Sarah's two daughters, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, 35, there's no formal change.
They will still be referred to as princesses, which they have been entitled to since their birth.
Additionally there is no change to the royal succession order.
The prince stays eighth in line to the crown, followed by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position respectively.
But in reality their positions are "distant" and will probably become even more remote as time goes on.
Coming Opportunities
Beatrice and Eugenie are also currently non-working royals, and while they do sometimes accept positions – The younger princess was recently named as a advisor for the King's Foundation network – experts also suggest they "don't envision a scenario" in which they would step up into official responsibilities.
"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an understanding of the fact that this controversy doesn't involve them, and it's unjust for it to impact them directly in the independent lives they are building for themselves," explains one royal commentator.
"The princesses are most unfortunate victims, they've had to suffer in silence and have been dignified in their reserve," adds another monarchy writer.
Final Impact
In the end, there appears to be little doubt that the person who will be most affected by these developments will be the Duke himself.
For a man who consistently enjoyed the royal privileges, the pomp and the pageantry, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.
Therefore lacking those, on a personal level, will significantly count.