How the Duke's Titles Loss Signifies for Fergie, Beatrice and Princess Eugenie

Royal Family Figures

The Duke's exit from the final remnants of royal life has not only altered his path - it's sending ripples through his family too.

Fergie's New Status

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

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

For all these years, she has maintained the honorary royal divorcee title Sarah, Duchess of York. Now, she reverts to her maiden name of Ferguson.

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

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.

Last month, multiple organizations dropped her as patron 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 Charity Work

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

And these ventures, are more likely to be impacted by the Epstein scandal than any alteration in status, notes one monarchy analyst.

But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in royal circles. She has continued recovering strongly.

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

The Princesses

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

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

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

Additionally there is no modification to the royal succession order.

The prince stays eighth position to the crown, succeeded by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position in that order.

But in reality their standing are "distant" and will likely become even more remote as time goes on.

Coming Opportunities

The princesses are also presently non-official royals, and while they do sometimes accept positions – Princess Eugenie was recently named as a advisor for the King's Foundation program – experts also suggest they "can't see a scenario" in which they would advance into royal duties.

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an appreciation of the reality that this controversy isn't about them, and it's unjust for it to affect them directly in the independent lives they are carving out for themselves," explains one royal commentator.

"Their daughters are particularly unlucky affected parties, they've had to suffer in silence and have been dignified in their silence," adds another royal author.

Ultimate Consequences

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

For a man who always liked the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the pageantry, the loss of his titles is deeply humiliating.

So to not have those, on a individual basis, will really matter.

Stephanie Austin
Stephanie Austin

An art historian and curator passionate about preserving and sharing the cultural treasures of Italy's iconic destinations.

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