What Prince Andrew's Titles Loss Means for Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Eugenie
The Duke's removal from the last vestiges of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's creating waves through his family too.
Fergie's New Status
His ex-wife has now surrendered her ducal status and will now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.
For Sarah, sixty-six, the change will be the most apparent.
For all these years, she has maintained the honorary royal post-marital designation Sarah, York Duchess. Now, she returns to her birth name of Ferguson.
"She has lost a certain prestige over this," noted one monarchy expert. "She definitely utilizes the title – including her Twitter bio is @TheDuchessSarah."
But the loss of her title may affect her much less than the scandal she's facing separately about her own links with the convicted financier.
Last month, multiple organizations dropped her as ambassador after an email from over a decade ago showed that she referred to Epstein her "supreme friend" and appeared to express regret for her public criticism of him.
Professional Endeavors and Philanthropy
Separate from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has various business ventures.
And these, too, are more probable 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 expert at transforming," commented one monarchy writer.
The Princesses
For the couple's two daughters, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no formal change.
They continue to be known as princesses, which they have been entitled to since their birth.
There is also no change to the line of succession.
Andrew remains eighth in line to the crown, succeeded by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position in that order.
But in practice their positions are "distant" and will probably become much further down as years pass.
Coming Opportunities
The princesses are also currently non-working royals, and while they occasionally accept positions – Princess Eugenie was recently named as a advisor 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 go, I think there's an understanding of the fact that this scandal isn't about them, and it's not fair for it to affect them personally in the separate paths they are building for themselves," says one monarchy analyst.
"Their daughters are most unfortunate affected parties, they've had to endure quietly and have been composed in their reserve," adds another royal author.
Ultimate Consequences
Ultimately, there seems to be little doubt that the person who will be most affected by all of this will be Prince Andrew himself.
For someone who always liked the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the pageantry, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.
So to not have these, on a personal level, will significantly count.