How the Duke's Titles Loss Means for Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
Prince Andrew's removal 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
His ex-wife has now surrendered her ducal status and will now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.
For Ferguson, 66, the transition will be the most visible.
For all these years, she has kept the courtesy royal post-marital designation Sarah, York Duchess. Now, she reverts to her maiden name of Ferguson.
"She will have lost a bit of cachet over this," said one monarchy expert. "She certainly utilizes the title – even her Twitter bio is @TheDuchessSarah."
But the loss of her title may affect her much less than the scandal she's dealing with independently about her own connections to 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.
Business Ventures and Philanthropy
Away from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has various business ventures.
And these, too, are more likely to be affected by the Epstein controversy than any change in title, says one monarchy analyst.
But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in royal circles. She has continued recovering strongly.
"She's the supreme perseverer and master of reinvention," said one monarchy writer.
The Princesses
For the couple's offspring, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, there's no official alteration.
They will still be known as royal princesses, which they have been entitled to since their birth.
There is also no change to the line of succession.
Andrew remains eighth position to the crown, followed by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position respectively.
But in practice their standing are "distant" and will likely become much further down as years pass.
Future Prospects
Beatrice and Eugenie are also currently non-working royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – Princess Eugenie was recently announced as a mentor for the King's Foundation program – experts also say they "can't see a world" in which they would advance into royal duties.
"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an understanding of the fact that this scandal doesn't involve them, and it's not fair for it to impact them personally in the separate paths they are building for themselves," explains one monarchy analyst.
"Their daughters are most unfortunate victims, they've had to suffer in silence and have been dignified in their reserve," states another royal author.
Ultimate Consequences
In the end, there seems to be little doubt that the individual 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 profoundly embarrassing.
Therefore lacking these, on a individual basis, will really matter.