How Prince Andrew's Removal of Titles Signifies for Sarah Ferguson, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie

Royal Family Figures

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

Fergie's Title Change

The former spouse has now lost her duchess title and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.

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

Throughout this period, she has maintained the honorary royal post-marital designation Sarah, York Duchess. Now, she reverts to her birth name of Ferguson.

"She will have lost a certain prestige over this," noted one monarchy expert. "She definitely does use the title – even her social media profile is @SarahTheDuchess."

But the loss of her title may impact her much less than the scandal she's facing separately about her own connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

Recently, several charities dropped her as ambassador after correspondence from over a decade ago showed that she called Epstein her "supreme friend" and seemed to apologise for her negative comments of him.

Professional Endeavors 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, says one royal commentator.

But Ferguson has been a great survivor in royal circles. She's kept recovering strongly.

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

The Daughters

Princess Beatrice during occasion
Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice seen at a royal celebration in last year

For Andrew and Sarah's offspring, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, there's no formal change.

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

There is also no modification to the royal succession order.

Andrew remains eighth in line to the crown, followed by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position respectively.

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

Future Prospects

Beatrice and Eugenie are also presently non-official royals, and while they do sometimes accept positions – Princess Eugenie was recently announced as a mentor for the King's Foundation network – experts also say they "don't envision a world" in which they would advance into royal duties.

"As far as 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 personally in the independent lives they are building for themselves," explains one monarchy analyst.

"The princesses are most unfortunate victims, they've had to endure quietly and have been composed in their silence," adds another monarchy writer.

Final Impact

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

For someone who consistently enjoyed the royal privileges, the pomp and the pageantry, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.

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

David Peters
David Peters

A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about emerging technologies and their impact on society.