How Prince Andrew's Titles Loss Signifies for Fergie, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie

York Family Members

Prince Andrew's removal from the final remnants of royal life has not only altered his path - it's creating waves through his immediate relatives too.

Fergie's New Status

His ex-wife has now lost her duchess title and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.

For Sarah, 66, the transition will be the most apparent.

For all these years, she has kept the courtesy royal post-marital designation Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, she returns to her birth name of Ferguson.

"She has lost a certain prestige over this," noted one royal commentator. "She definitely utilizes the title – even her social media profile is @SarahTheDuchess."

But the relinquishment of her status may impact her much less than the scandal she's facing separately about her own links with Jeffrey Epstein.

Last month, several charities removed her as patron after correspondence from over a decade ago showed that she referred to Epstein her "supreme friend" and seemed to apologise for her public criticism of him.

Business Ventures and Charity Work

Separate from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has various business ventures.

And these ventures, are more probable to be affected by the Epstein controversy than any change in title, notes one monarchy analyst.

But Ferguson has been a great survivor in monarchical networks. She has continued recovering strongly.

"She's the supreme perseverer and expert at transforming," said one monarchy writer.

The Daughters

Princess Eugenie during occasion
Princess Eugenie and Princess Eugenie pictured at a Coronation Big Lunch in last year

For Andrew and Sarah's offspring, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no official alteration.

They will still be known as princesses, which they have been entitled to since their birth.

There is also no modification to the line of succession.

Andrew remains eighth position to the throne, followed 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 time goes on.

Coming Opportunities

The princesses are also currently non-official royals, and while they do sometimes take on roles – The younger princess was recently named as a mentor for the monarch's charity program – commentators also say they "can't see a world" in which they would advance into official responsibilities.

"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an appreciation of the reality that this scandal doesn't involve them, and it's unjust for it to affect them directly in the separate paths they are carving out for themselves," says one royal commentator.

"Their daughters are most unfortunate victims, they've had to suffer in silence and have been dignified in their reserve," adds another royal author.

Ultimate Consequences

In the end, there appears to be minimal uncertainty that the person who will be most impacted by these developments will be Prince Andrew himself.

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

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

Megan Gross
Megan Gross

Automotive journalist with a passion for luxury vehicles and years of experience in car reviewing and industry analysis.